Dams are tested in UPSC both as geography (river-dam mapping, states, reservoir names) and as current affairs (inter-state water disputes, dam safety, irrigation projects). Key distinctions to remember: Tehri is India's tallest dam; Hirakud is the longest; Indira Sagar has the largest reservoir by volume. The Narmada, Krishna, and Cauvery river systems have the most disputed dams.

Major Dams of India

Dam River State Purpose Reservoir Name Key Facts
Tehri Dam Bhagirathi (tributary of Ganga) Uttarakhand Hydro (1,000 MW), Irrigation, Water Supply Tehri Reservoir (Swami Rama Sagar) Tallest dam in India (260.5 m); 12th tallest in world; rock and earth-fill dam; submerged old Tehri town
Bhakra Dam Sutlej Himachal Pradesh (border with Punjab) Hydro, Irrigation Gobind Sagar 226 m tall; concrete gravity dam; 2nd tallest in India; Nehru called it "New Temple of Resurgent India"
Nangal Dam Sutlej Punjab Regulator/Feeder for canals — Located downstream of Bhakra; Bhakra-Nangal project together
Pong Dam Beas Himachal Pradesh Irrigation, Hydro Maharana Pratap Sagar Largest reservoir in HP by volume; Ramsar site
Pandoh Dam Beas Himachal Pradesh Hydro, Diversion Pandoh Lake Diverts Beas water to Sutlej via tunnel
Nathpa Jhakri Dam Sutlej Himachal Pradesh Hydro (1,500 MW) — Largest hydroelectric project in HP
Salal Dam Chenab J&K Hydro (690 MW) — First major project on Chenab in J&K
Baglihar Dam Chenab J&K Hydro (900 MW) — India-Pakistan dispute under Indus Waters Treaty; neutral expert ruling favoured India
Kishanganga Dam Kishanganga (Neelum) J&K Hydro (330 MW), Water Diversion — Pakistan contested at Permanent Court of Arbitration
Sardar Sarovar Dam Narmada Gujarat Irrigation, Hydro, Drinking water Sardar Sarovar Reservoir 163 m tall; largest dam in Gujarat; Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) protests; benefits Gujarat, MP, Rajasthan, Maharashtra
Omkareshwar Dam Narmada Madhya Pradesh Hydro (520 MW), Irrigation Omkareshwar Reservoir Sacred island Mandhata between dam and Maheshwar
Indira Sagar Dam Narmada Madhya Pradesh Hydro (1,000 MW), Irrigation Indira Sagar Lake Largest reservoir in India by volume capacity
Maheshwar Dam Narmada Madhya Pradesh Hydro (400 MW) — Controversial private hydro project; Ghats at Maheshwar town
Hirakud Dam Mahanadi Odisha Flood control, Irrigation, Hydro Hirakud Reservoir Longest earthen dam in world (25.79 km total including dykes); built 1957; reservoir is one of largest artificial lakes in Asia
Tungabhadra Dam Tungabhadra Karnataka/AP Irrigation, Hydro Tungabhadra Reservoir Joint project of AP and Karnataka; serves Bellary, Raichur; Hampi nearby
Nagarjuna Sagar Dam Krishna Telangana/AP Irrigation, Hydro (816 MW) Nagarjuna Sagar Lake One of largest masonry dams in world; built 1967
Srisailam Dam Krishna Telangana/AP Hydro (1,670 MW) Srisailam Reservoir 2nd largest hydro capacity in AP/Telangana; inside Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve
Almatti Dam Krishna Karnataka Irrigation, Hydro Lal Bahadur Shastri Reservoir Inter-state water dispute; Karnataka vs AP/Telangana; height increase controversy
Koyna Dam Koyna (tributary of Krishna) Maharashtra Hydro (1,920 MW) Shivajisagar Lake Koyna earthquake (1967) — serious example of reservoir-induced seismicity (6.5 magnitude)
Jayakwadi Dam Godavari (Pravara tributary) Maharashtra Irrigation, Drinking water Nathsagar Largest dam in Maharashtra; Aurangabad region
Mettur Dam Kaveri Tamil Nadu Irrigation, Hydro Stanley Reservoir Oldest dam in TN (1934); supplies water to TN's delta; opening date (June 12) monitored annually for monsoon
Krishnaraja Sagara (KRS) Kaveri Karnataka Irrigation, Drinking water (Mysuru, Bengaluru) KRS Reservoir / Kannambadi Vrindavan Gardens on its bank; built 1931; Kaveri water dispute
Kabini Dam Kabini (tributary of Kaveri) Karnataka Irrigation, Hydro Kabini Reservoir Popular wildlife resort; Nagarhole NP
Mullaperiyar Dam Periyar Kerala (owned by Tamil Nadu) Water diversion to TN, Hydro Periyar Lake 116-year-old dam; TN owns and operates it but it stands in Kerala; inter-state dispute over safety and height
Idukki Dam Periyar (above Mullaperiyar) Kerala Hydro (780 MW) Idukki Reservoir One of the largest arch dams in Asia; between two granite hills
Ukai Dam Tapi Gujarat Flood control, Irrigation, Hydro Vallabh Sagar Largest reservoir in Gujarat; flood moderation for Surat
Rihand Dam Rihand (tributary of Son) Uttar Pradesh Hydro (300 MW) Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar Largest reservoir in UP; one of largest in India
Bansagar Dam Son MP/Jharkhand/UP border Irrigation, Hydro (435 MW) Bansagar Reservoir Joint project of MP, UP, Bihar; Son River system
Gandhi Sagar Dam Chambal Madhya Pradesh Hydro, Irrigation Gandhi Sagar Reservoir Largest dam on Chambal; wildlife sanctuary surrounds it
Rana Pratap Sagar Dam Chambal Rajasthan Hydro (172 MW), Irrigation Rana Pratap Sagar Downstream of Gandhi Sagar
Tilaiya Dam Barakar (Damodar tributary) Jharkhand Hydro, Flood control Tilaiya Reservoir First DVC dam; 1953
Maithon Dam Barakar (Damodar) Jharkhand/WB Flood control, Hydro Maithon Reservoir DVC project; Dhanbad region
Panchet Dam Damodar Jharkhand/WB Flood control, Hydro Panchet Reservoir DVC; near Dhanbad
Polavaram Dam Godavari Andhra Pradesh Irrigation (7.2 lakh ha), Hydro (960 MW), Drinking water Polavaram Reservoir National project; ~55.9% civil work complete as of Feb 2025; target: Dec 2027; displaced families from Telangana, Odisha, CG too; R&R a major challenge
Shahpur Kandi Dam Ravi Punjab Hydro (206 MW), Irrigation, Flood control — Completed Feb 2024; cost ₹3,400 crore; declared national importance; irrigates 5,000 ha (Punjab) + 32,000 ha (J&K); stops Ravi waters from flowing to Pakistan unutilised; located downstream of Ranjit Sagar Dam
Dibang Multipurpose Project Dibang Arunachal Pradesh Hydro (2,880 MW), Flood control — Foundation stone laid by PM Modi on March 9, 2024; Lower Dibang Valley district; to be India's highest dam (278 m) when complete; NHPC project

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