Narmada River Westward Flow

The primary reason the Narmada flows westward while most peninsular rivers flow eastward is that it occupies a linear rift valley (statement 1), which runs in a north-south direction. This rift structure determines the westward flow toward the Arabian Sea. While statement 2 about flowing between Vindhyas and Satpuras is descriptively true, it is a consequence rather than a cause of its westward flow. Statement 3 is misleading—the land doesn't slope west from Central India; rather, the rift valley's orientation forces the westward direction. The tectonic structure (rift valley) is the primary factor, making only statement 1 correct. > Rift valleys control river direction: Narmada's rift orientation→westward flow, defying the typical east-flowing pattern of Deccan rivers. Answer: a.