List of Major Dams of India for UPSC: Oldest, Longest & Highest Dams in India

India is home to some of the major dams in the world, playing a crucial role in irrigation, hydropower, flood control, and water storage. They are vital to water management, agriculture, and energy security. 

For UPSC aspirants, understanding the important dams of India is essential for Prelims and Mains Geography topics. This guide provides a list of major dams in India to help you revise quickly and effectively.

A dam is a large structure built across a river to hold, store, or control the flow of water. It helps manage water for irrigation, drinking supply, electricity generation, and flood control. Dams help in: 

• Water Storage: Collects and stores river water in a reservoir.
• Flow Regulation: Controls the amount of water released downstream.
• Irrigation Support: Supplies water for farming throughout the year.
• Hydropower Generation: Uses stored water to produce electricity.
• Flood Control: Helps reduce the impact of heavy rains and floods.
• Multi-purpose Utility: Often used for drinking water, navigation, fisheries, and tourism.

• The earliest known dam in the world is the Jawa Dam in Jordan, dating back to 3000 BC.
• In the Indian subcontinent, Dholavira (Indus Valley Civilisation) had an advanced water-management system with 16 reservoirs, dams, and channels.
• India ranks third globally in the number of large dams, after China and the USA.
• As per the National Register of Large Dams (NRLD 2023) by NDSA & CWC, India has 6,138 completed and 143 under-construction large dams (total 6,281).
• Dams are crucial for India’s food security, supporting irrigation for nearly 40% of India’s net irrigated area.

Must cover this key topic from UPSC Geography syllabus: El NINO and LA NINA UPSC Notes: Meaning, Impact and Important Terms

Dams are classified based on their structure, materials used, and purpose. Understanding these types is important for UPSC, as many dams in India are built using different engineering techniques suited to local geography.

1. Gravity Dam: A massive concrete or masonry dam that resists water pressure through its own weight.
2. Arch Dam: A curved dam that transfers water pressure to the valley walls. Used in narrow, rocky gorges.
3. Embankment Dam: Made of earth or rock-fill, suitable for wide valleys.
4. Buttress Dam: Supported by buttresses (triangular supports) on the downstream side to hold water.
5. Diversion Dam: Built to divert water into canals, tunnels or irrigation systems rather than store it.
6. Storage Dam: Constructed to store water for multiple purposes such as irrigation, hydroelectricity and flood control.
7. Detention Dam: Designed to temporarily hold floodwater and release it gradually to reduce downstream flooding.

Also read: Soils of India: Classification, Significance & Recent Crisis

Here’s a comprehensive state-wise list of major dams in India, along with the rivers they are built.

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Dams play a significant role in irrigation, hydropower, drinking water supply, and flood control. However, their construction also leads to ecological, social, and economic consequences. 

1. Alteration of River Ecosystems: Dams disrupt the natural flow of rivers, affecting aquatic life and sediment movement.
2. Loss of Forests and Wildlife Habitat: Reservoirs submerge forests, grasslands, and wildlife corridors. The Sardar Sarovar Dam caused the submergence of large riverine forest areas, affecting local biodiversity.
3. Sedimentation Issues: Sediment trapping reduces downstream soil fertility and alters river geomorphology. Bhakra Nangal Dam has significantly reduced silt deposition in the Sutlej plains, impacting agricultural nutrient levels.
4. Water Quality Changes: Reservoir storage leads to lower oxygen levels and temperature changes, affecting aquatic ecosystems.
5. Displacement and Rehabilitation Challenges: Large dams often displace thousands of families from their homes and farmlands. The Hirakud Dam displaced more than 22,000 families, with rehabilitation issues continuing for decades.
6. Dam Failure Risks: Ageing structures and extreme rainfall can lead to catastrophic breaches. The Mullaperiyar Dam, over 125 years old, remains a seismic and safety concern.
7. Reservoir-Induced Seismicity & Landslides: Massive water pressure can trigger earthquakes or destabilise slopes. Increased landslides around the Tehri reservoir highlight geological risks.

Ensuring the long-term safety and efficiency of India’s dams requires modern technology, strong regulation, and environmentally responsible planning. The following measures focus on sustainability, resilience, and improved governance.

1. Strengthening Dam Safety

• Regular inspection, maintenance, and structural audits.
• Installation of real-time monitoring systems (sensors, automated alerts).
• Strict enforcement of the Dam Safety Act, 2021, which mandates national and state authorities for dam oversight.

2. Modernising Ageing Dams

• Rehabilitation of old dams through DRIP (Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project) supported by the World Bank.
• Upgrading spillways, gates, and emergency response systems.
• Desilting and sediment management to restore storage capacity.

3. Promoting Eco-friendly Hydropower

• Adoption of run-of-the-river projects, where feasible, to reduce submergence and displacement.
• Environmental flow regulations to maintain river health.

4. Climate-Resilient Planning

• Integrating climate risk assessment, especially for dams in the Himalayan regions.
• Designing reservoirs to handle extreme rainfall, flash floods, and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).

5. Integrated River Basin Management

• Coordinated planning across states for flood control, water sharing, and drought management.
• Use of Reservoir Operation Schedules to balance irrigation, power generation, and ecological needs.

6. Strengthening Community Engagement

• Involving local communities in early warning dissemination.
• Better resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) for affected populations.

7. Key Government Initiatives

• Dam Safety Act, 2021 – legal framework for dam safety and disaster prevention.
• National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) – a central body for technical standards and inspections.
• DRIP Phase I, II & III – rehabilitation and safety upgrades of hundreds of large dams.
• Central Water Commission (CWC) – guidelines, hydrological studies, and flood forecasting.

As India faces growing water stress, climate risks, and rising energy needs, the role of dams must shift from traditional structures to smart, sustainable, and resilient water systems. 

• Boost dam safety through real-time monitoring and strict audits.
• Upgrade ageing dams with modern engineering and desilting solutions.
• Promote eco-friendly hydropower with minimal ecological impact.
• Use river-basin planning for better flood–drought management.
• Build climate-resilient designs for vulnerable regions, especially the Himalayas.

A forward-looking approach will ensure India’s dams remain safe, sustainable, and future-ready.

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