Which of the following is a key river in the Thar Desert region?

Correct option is D

The correct answer is (d) Luni river

• The Luni River is the most prominent river in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan. It originates in the Aravalli hills near Ajmer and flows westward into the desert, eventually dissipating into the marshy lands of the Rann of Kutch.

• It is a seasonal river, primarily active during the monsoon, and carries saline water, which makes it unsuitable for drinking but usable for irrigation in some areas.

• Length: About 495 km, making it the longest river in the Thar Desert.

• The river is known as “Lavanavari” in Sanskrit, meaning "salt river" due to its high salinity.

• Important tributaries: Sukri, Jawai, Bandi, and Guhiya.

• The Luni does not reach the sea; it ends in inland drainage — a typical feature of desert rivers.

• It supports limited agriculture and settlements like Balotra and Barmer in western Rajasthan.

• Option A – Yamuna River: A major perennial river of northern India; it flows through Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh.

• Option B – Sutlej River: A major river of the Indus river system; flows through Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, not the Thar Desert.

• Option C – Ghaggar River: An ephemeral river in Haryana and Rajasthan; often associated with the mythical Saraswati River, but it does not significantly flow through the core desert region like the Luni.