The Narmada river flows to the west, while most other large peninsular rivers flow to the east. Why?

1. It occupies a linear rift valley.
2. It flows between the Vindhyas and the Satpuras.
3. The land slopes to the west from Central India.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

Statement 1 is correct: The Narmada River flows through a linear rift valley, formed due to faulting and subsidence between two upland regions — the Vindhya Range (north) and the Satpura Range (south). This tectonic feature directs the river’s flow toward the west.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The river indeed flows between the Vindhyas and the Satpuras, following the east–west oriented rift valley, But do not adequately explain why Narmada flows westward. Confinement could lead a river to flow in either direction.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The general slope of the Peninsular Plateau is from west to east, which is why most peninsular rivers (like Godavari, Krishna, and Mahanadi) flow eastward into the Bay of Bengal. The Narmada’s westward flow is an exception due to its rift valley structure, not due to land slope.