Explanations:The drainage basin of a river is the area of land where precipitation collects and drains off into a common outlet, such as a river mouth. In the context of Indian geography, several major rivers have distinct drainage patterns that are important to understand. The Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri are all significant rivers located in the eastern part of India, and they all drain into the Bay of Bengal.
The Mahanadi River originates in the Eastern Ghats in the state of Odisha and flows eastward to the Bay of Bengal. The Godavari River, often referred to as the "Dakshin Ganga" (Ganges of the South), originates in the Western Ghats in the state of Maharashtra and flows eastward through the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh before draining into the Bay of Bengal. The Krishna River, another major river in southern India, originates in the Western Ghats in Karnataka and flows through Telangana and Andhra Pradesh before reaching the Bay of Bengal. The Kaveri River, also known as the Cauvery, originates in the Western Ghats in Karnataka and flows through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu before draining into the Bay of Bengal.
It is important to note that the drainage basins of these rivers are distinct from their sources. While the sources of these rivers may be in the Western Ghats or other mountain ranges, the rivers themselves flow eastward and drain into the Bay of Bengal. The Western Ghats, which are a mountain range in western India, do not serve as the drainage basin for these rivers. Similarly, the Arabian Sea, which is located on the western coast of India, is not the drainage basin for these eastern rivers.
Understanding the drainage patterns of these rivers is crucial for comprehending the geographical and hydrological features of India. The Bay of Bengal, being a large body of water on the eastern coast of India, serves as the common outlet for these rivers, making it the correct answer to the question.