Q. Which one of the following rivers originates at Amarkantak? (UPSC Prelims 2007)
Answer: Narmada
Notes: The Narmada River originates from the Amarkantak plateau in Madhya Pradesh's Maikal Hills, at Narmada Kund. It flows westward into the Arabian Sea and is considered sacred in Hinduism alongside rivers like the Ganga and Yamuna. While Mahanadi also starts near Amarkantak, Narmada's exact source distinguishes it. Damodar rises in the Chota Nagpur Plateau, and Tapti originates from Multai in Betul. This information is standard in Indian geography references.