Important dams in India represent some of the country’s most significant infrastructure achievements — storing water, generating electricity, controlling floods, and irrigating millions of hectares of farmland.
India has over 5,000 large dams, the third highest in the world after China and the USA. Questions on dam names, their rivers, states, heights, types, and the reservoirs they create appear consistently in UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL, Banking, Railways, and State PSC exams. This page gives you a complete, state-wise and river-wise list of all major dams in India with type, height, purpose, and exam-ready facts for 2026.
⚡ Quick Facts
- India has 5,000+ large dams — 3rd in the world after China and the USA.
- Tehri Dam (260 m) — tallest dam in India; rock-fill + earth-fill; Bhagirathi River, Uttarakhand; 8th tallest in the world.
- Hirakud Dam (~26 km) — longest dam in India; Mahanadi River, Odisha; first major post-independence multi-purpose dam (1957).
- Sardar Sarovar Dam — largest concrete dam in India by volume; Narmada River, Gujarat; Narmada Bachao Andolan.
- Bhakra Nangal Dam (226 m) — highest gravity dam in India; Sutlej River, HP; Nehru called it “Temple of the Modern Age.”
Tehri (260 m) = tallest dam overall vs Bhakra Nangal (226 m) = highest gravity dam — two different records. Also: Indira Sagar = largest reservoir by storage capacity vs Gobind Ballabh Pant Sagar (Rihand Dam) = largest by surface area — another classic trap. Pong Dam = Beas River (not Sutlej — Bhakra Nangal is on Sutlej). Kallanai = Kaveri (not Krishna or Godavari). Hirakud = Mahanadi (not Godavari). Farakka is a barrage (not a dam — no storage, only diversion).
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🏗️ Important Dams in India — Complete List
| # ↕ | Dam ↕ | River | State | Type | Height (m) ↕ | Region ↕ | Reservoir | Key Exam Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tehri Dam | Bhagirathi (Ganga trib.) | Uttarakhand | Rock-fill + Earth-fill | 260 | North | Tehri Reservoir | 🏆 Tallest dam in India; 8th tallest in world; seismic zone IV |
| 2 | Bhakra Nangal Dam | Sutlej | Himachal Pradesh | Gravity (concrete) | 226 | North | Gobind Sagar | 🏆 Highest gravity dam in India; Nehru: “Temple of Modern Age” (1963) |
| 3 | Lakhwar Dam | Yamuna | Uttarakhand | Gravity | 204 | North | Lakhwar Reservoir | Under construction; part of Upper Yamuna River Board project |
| 4 | Idukki Dam | Periyar | Kerala | Arch (double curvature) | 169 | South | Idukki Reservoir | 🏆 One of highest arch dams in Asia (169 m); Kerala’s largest power project |
| 5 | Ranjit Sagar Dam (Thein) | Ravi | Punjab / J&K | Rock-fill + Earth | 160 | North | Ranjit Sagar Reservoir | Largest power project in Punjab; completed 2000 |
| 6 | Sardar Sarovar Dam | Narmada | Gujarat | Gravity (concrete) | 163 | West | Sardar Sarovar Reservoir | 🏆 Largest concrete dam by volume in India; Narmada Bachao Andolan; completed 2017 |
| 7 | Srisailam Dam | Krishna | Telangana / AP | Gravity | 145 | South | Srisailam Reservoir | Second largest reservoir in India by storage; right bank of Krishna |
| 8 | Pong Dam | Beas | Himachal Pradesh | Earth-fill (rock-fill) | 133 | North | Pong Reservoir / Maharana Pratap Sagar | 🏆 Largest earth-fill dam by volume in India; Pong Wetland = Ramsar site |
| 9 | Nagarjuna Sagar Dam | Krishna | Telangana / AP | Masonry (stone) | 124 | South | Nagarjuna Sagar Lake | One of world’s largest masonry dams; completed 1969 |
| 10 | Koyna Dam | Koyna (Krishna trib.) | Maharashtra | Gravity (concrete) | 103 | West | Shivasagar Lake | Maharashtra’s largest dam; 1967 Koyna earthquake (M6.5) triggered by reservoir — Reservoir-Induced Seismicity (RIS) |
| 11 | Supa Dam (Kadra) | Kali (Sharavathi trib.) | Karnataka | Gravity | 101 | South | Supa Reservoir | Part of Kalinadi Hydroelectric Project; major hydropower dam |
| 12 | Indira Sagar Dam | Narmada | Madhya Pradesh | Gravity (concrete) | 92 | Central | Indira Sagar Reservoir | 🏆 Largest reservoir in India by water storage capacity; completed 2005 |
| 13 | Rihand Dam | Rihand (Son tributary) | Uttar Pradesh | Gravity | 91 | North | Gobind Ballabh Pant Sagar | 🏆 Largest artificial lake in India by surface area (Gobind Ballabh Pant Sagar) |
| 14 | Mahi Bajaj Sagar Dam | Mahi | Rajasthan | Composite | 73 | North | Mahi Bajaj Sagar | Largest dam in Rajasthan; named after Jamnalal Bajaj |
| 15 | Ukai Dam | Tapti | Gujarat | Composite (earth + gravity) | 68 | West | Ukai Reservoir (Vallabh Sagar) | Largest dam in Gujarat on Tapti River; flood control + irrigation |
| 16 | Bansagar Dam | Son | Madhya Pradesh | Composite | 67 | Central | Bansagar Reservoir | MP’s largest dam; shared benefits with UP and Bihar |
| 17 | Hirakud Dam | Mahanadi | Odisha | Composite (earth + gravity) | 61 | East | Hirakud Reservoir | 🏆 Longest dam in India (~26 km); first major post-independence multi-purpose dam (1957) |
| 18 | Nathpa Jhakri Dam | Sutlej | Himachal Pradesh | Gravity (concrete) | 60 | North | — | Largest hydroelectric project in HP (1,500 MW) |
| 19 | Gandhi Sagar Dam | Chambal | Madhya Pradesh | Gravity | 62 | Central | Gandhi Sagar Reservoir | Largest dam on Chambal; Chambal Valley Project Phase I |
| 20 | Linganmakki Dam | Sharavathi | Karnataka | Gravity + Earth | 56 | South | Linganmakki Reservoir | Feeds Jog Falls (Gersoppa Falls); major hydropower dam |
| 21 | Mettur Dam | Kaveri | Tamil Nadu | Gravity | 54 | South | Stanley Reservoir | One of largest and oldest dams in TN (1934); centre of Cauvery water dispute |
| 22 | Rana Pratap Sagar Dam | Chambal | Rajasthan | Gravity | 54 | North | Rana Pratap Sagar | Part of Chambal Valley Development Project; downstream of Gandhi Sagar |
| 23 | Pandoh Dam | Beas | Himachal Pradesh | Gravity | 76 | North | Pandoh Lake | Diverts Beas water to Sutlej for Beas-Sutlej Link Project |
| 24 | Almatti Dam | Krishna | Karnataka | Gravity | 52 | South | Upper Krishna Project Reservoir | Inter-state water dispute with AP/Telangana; Upper Krishna Project |
| 25 | Polavaram Dam | Godavari | Andhra Pradesh | Gravity + Earth | 48 | South | Polavaram Reservoir | National project; AP’s lifeline; tribal displacement concern (Gondi, Koya); under construction (2026) |
| 26 | Tungabhadra Dam | Tungabhadra (Krishna trib.) | Karnataka / AP | Composite | 49 | South | Tungabhadra Reservoir | Supports Hampi heritage region; major irrigation dam for north Karnataka |
| 27 | Jawahar Sagar Dam | Chambal | Rajasthan | Gravity | 46 | North | Jawahar Sagar | Part of Chambal Valley Project; downstream of Rana Pratap Sagar |
| 28 | Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) Dam | Kaveri | Karnataka | Gravity (masonry) | 39 | South | KRS Reservoir (Kannambadi) | Built by Sir M. Visvesvaraya; Vrindavan Gardens; feeds Bengaluru and Mysuru |
| 29 | Farakka Barrage | Ganga | West Bengal | Barrage (not a dam) | — | East | — (diversion only) | Diverts Ganga to Hooghly; India-Bangladesh water dispute; Ganga Waters Treaty 1996 — not a dam |
| 30 | Kallanai Dam (Grand Anicut) | Kaveri | Tamil Nadu | Stone / masonry (anicut) | 4.5 | South | — (diversion) | 🏆 Oldest water regulation structure in India; built by Karikala Chola (~2nd century CE); ~2,000 years old and still functioning |
| Category | Dam | River | State | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tallest Dam in India | Tehri Dam | Bhagirathi | Uttarakhand | 260 m; rock-fill + earth-fill; 8th tallest in world |
| Highest Gravity Dam | Bhakra Nangal | Sutlej | Himachal Pradesh | 226 m; concrete gravity; “Temple of Modern Age” |
| Longest Dam in India | Hirakud Dam | Mahanadi | Odisha | ~26 km long; composite dam; first post-independence multi-purpose |
| Largest Concrete Volume Dam | Sardar Sarovar | Narmada | Gujarat | Largest concrete dam in India by volume; completed 2017 |
| Largest Reservoir (Storage Capacity) | Indira Sagar Dam | Narmada | Madhya Pradesh | Largest reservoir by water storage capacity |
| Largest Reservoir (Surface Area) | Gobind Ballabh Pant Sagar (Rihand Dam) | Rihand (Son tributary) | UP / MP border | Largest artificial lake in India by surface area |
| Highest Arch Dam | Idukki Dam | Periyar | Kerala | 169 m; one of the highest arch dams in Asia |
| Oldest Dam / Anicut in India | Kallanai (Grand Anicut) | Kaveri | Tamil Nadu | ~2nd century CE; Karikala Chola; still functional |
| Largest Earth-fill Dam by Volume | Pong Dam | Beas | Himachal Pradesh | 133 m; largest earth-fill dam in India by volume |
| First Post-Independence Multi-purpose Dam | Hirakud Dam | Mahanadi | Odisha | Completed 1957; first major multi-purpose river valley project |
| State | Major Dam(s) | River(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Uttarakhand | Tehri Dam | Bhagirathi |
| Himachal Pradesh | Bhakra Nangal, Pong, Pandoh, Nathpa Jhakri | Sutlej, Beas |
| Punjab / J&K | Ranjit Sagar (Thein Dam) | Ravi |
| Uttar Pradesh | Rihand Dam (Gobind Ballabh Pant Sagar) | Rihand (Son tributary) |
| Rajasthan | Mahi Bajaj Sagar, Rana Pratap Sagar, Jawahar Sagar | Mahi, Chambal |
| Madhya Pradesh | Indira Sagar, Gandhi Sagar, Bansagar, Bargi | Narmada, Chambal, Son |
| Gujarat | Sardar Sarovar, Ukai, Kadana | Narmada, Tapti, Mahi |
| Maharashtra | Koyna, Ujjani, Jayakwadi | Koyna (Krishna), Bhima, Godavari |
| Karnataka | Tungabhadra, KRS, Almatti, Supa, Linganmakki | Tungabhadra, Kaveri, Krishna, Kali, Sharavathi |
| Telangana / AP | Nagarjuna Sagar, Srisailam, Polavaram | Krishna, Godavari |
| Tamil Nadu | Mettur, Kallanai (Grand Anicut) | Kaveri |
| Kerala | Idukki, Malampuzha | Periyar, Bharathapuzha |
| Odisha | Hirakud, Balimela | Mahanadi, Sileru |
| Jharkhand | Maithon, Panchet (DVC) | Barakar, Damodar |
| West Bengal | Farakka Barrage, Massanjore | Ganga, Mayurakshi |
| Dam Type | How It Works | Key Example in India | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gravity Dam | Uses its own weight to resist water pressure; concrete or masonry | Bhakra Nangal Dam | Himachal Pradesh |
| Arch Dam | Curved structure transfers load to canyon walls; very efficient use of material | Idukki Dam | Kerala |
| Earth-fill / Embankment Dam | Built from compacted soil or rock; large volume required | Pong Dam | Himachal Pradesh |
| Rock-fill Dam | Core of impervious material with outer rock fill; flexible in seismic zones | Tehri Dam (rock-fill component) | Uttarakhand |
| Composite Dam | Combination of types (e.g., gravity section + earth section) | Hirakud Dam | Odisha |
| Masonry Dam | Built with stone or brick masonry; traditional method | Nagarjuna Sagar, KRS | Telangana / Karnataka |
| Barrage | Low-head structure for water diversion, not storage; no reservoir | Farakka Barrage | West Bengal |
| Weir / Anicut | Ancient diversion structure; very low height; channels water to fields | Kallanai (Grand Anicut) | Tamil Nadu |
| Dam | Controversy / Significance | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| Sardar Sarovar (Narmada) | Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) — led by Medha Patkar; displacement of tribal people (Adivasis) from Narmada valley | Completed 2017; height raised to 138.68 m after SC approval |
| Tehri Dam | Displaced Tehri town; environmental concerns; located in seismic zone IV; risk of catastrophic failure debated | Operational since 2006; reservoir full |
| Polavaram Dam | National project; displacement of tribal communities (Gondi, Koya); AP’s lifeline irrigation project | Under construction (as of 2026); partially operational |
| Farakka Barrage | India-Bangladesh water dispute over Ganga water sharing; silt deposition affecting navigation | Operational since 1975; Ganga Waters Treaty signed 1996 |
| Mullaperiyar Dam | Inter-state dispute: Kerala (safety concerns — 119-year-old dam) vs Tamil Nadu (water rights); SC-monitored | Operational; height capped at 142 feet by Supreme Court |
| Koyna Dam | 1967 Koyna earthquake (M6.5) caused by Reservoir-Induced Seismicity (RIS) — water weight triggered tectonic activity | Still operational; seismicity monitored continuously |
| Almatti Dam | Water dispute between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh/Telangana over Krishna water sharing | Operational; height controversy resolved by Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal |
| Hirakud Dam | First large post-independence dam; displaced over 100,000 people (Nehru era development trade-offs) | Completed 1957; fully operational; multiple purposes served |
⚖️ Compare Two Dams
📝 Key Notes & Memory Tips
Tehri Dam (260 m) = tallest dam in India overall — it is a rock-fill and earth-fill dam on the Bhagirathi River, Uttarakhand. Bhakra Nangal Dam (226 m) = highest gravity dam in India — a concrete gravity dam on the Sutlej River, HP. Exam questions often specify “tallest” (Tehri) vs “highest gravity” (Bhakra Nangal). Do not confuse these two different categories.
Hirakud Dam holds three key records: (1) Longest dam in India (~26 km, Mahanadi River, Odisha), (2) First major multi-purpose river valley project completed after independence (1957), and (3) one of the longest earthen dams in Asia. It creates the Hirakud Reservoir — the longest artificial lake in India by linear distance.
The Kallanai Dam (Grand Anicut) on the Kaveri River in Tamil Nadu, built by Karikala Chola in approximately the 2nd century CE, is one of the oldest water regulation structures in the world still in use — nearly 2,000 years old. It is not a modern dam but an ancient diversion anicut that channels Kaveri water to delta fields. This ancient hydraulic engineering feat is a direct exam question.
Indira Sagar Dam (Narmada, MP) = largest reservoir by water storage capacity. Gobind Ballabh Pant Sagar (Rihand Dam, Rihand/Son tributary, UP) = largest artificial lake by surface area. These two different records — storage capacity vs surface area — are a classic exam trap. Always check which “largest” category the question asks about.
The 1967 Koyna earthquake (Magnitude 6.5) in Maharashtra was caused by Reservoir-Induced Seismicity (RIS) — the weight of water in the Koyna Dam reservoir triggered tectonic activity in a previously stable zone. The Tehri Dam, located in seismic zone IV, faces similar concerns. RIS is a direct UPSC Environment and Disaster Management topic — reservoirs can destabilise geological faults.
“Tehri is Tall, Hirakud is Long, Kallanai is Old”
→ Tehri (260 m, Bhagirathi, UK) = Tallest | Hirakud (~26 km, Mahanadi, Odisha) = Longest | Kallanai (Kaveri, TN, ~2nd century CE) = Oldest
“Indira Omkareshwar Maheshwar Sardar”
→ Indira Sagar (MP) → Omkareshwar (MP) → Maheshwar (MP) → Sardar Sarovar (Gujarat)
Remember: Indira Sagar = largest by storage; Sardar Sarovar = largest by concrete volume
“Bhakra = Sutlej + Highest Gravity + Gobind Sagar + Nehru’s Temple”
→ River: Sutlej | Type: Highest Gravity Dam | Reservoir: Gobind Sagar | Famous quote: “Temple of the Modern Age”
🃏 Flashcards
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🧩 Practice Quiz
5 questions · Answer all · Check your score
The Tehri Dam on the Bhagirathi River in Uttarakhand is India\u2019s tallest dam at 260 metres. It is a composite rock-fill and earth-fill dam and is among the tallest dams in the world. The Bhakra Nangal Dam (226 m, Sutlej, HP) is India\u2019s highest gravity dam \u2014 a different category from \u201ctallest dam.\u201d
The Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi River in Odisha is India\u2019s longest dam at approximately 26 km. It is a composite dam (earth + gravity) and was the first major multi-purpose river valley project completed after independence in 1957. It creates the Hirakud Reservoir \u2014 one of Asia\u2019s largest artificial lakes.
Jawaharlal Nehru famously called the Bhakra Nangal Dam the \u201cTemple of the Modern Age\u201d \u2014 symbolising India\u2019s industrial ambitions after independence. Built on the Sutlej River in Himachal Pradesh, it is India\u2019s highest gravity dam at 226 m and creates the Gobind Sagar reservoir.
The Indira Sagar Dam on the Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh creates the largest reservoir in India by water storage capacity. The Rihand Dam (Gobind Ballabh Pant Sagar) creates the largest artificial lake by surface area \u2014 a different record. These two categories are a classic exam trap.
The Kallanai Dam (Grand Anicut) is built on the Kaveri River in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the oldest water diversion structures in the world still in use \u2014 built by the Chola king Karikala in approximately the 2nd century CE, functioning for nearly 2,000 years. It is an ancient anicut (diversion structure), not a modern gravity dam.
\u2705 Key Takeaways
\u2753 Frequently Asked Questions
The Tehri Dam on the Bhagirathi River (a tributary of the Ganga) in Uttarakhand is the tallest dam in India at 260 metres. It is a composite rock-fill and earth-fill dam, operational since 2006, and is among the tallest dams in the world. The Bhakra Nangal Dam (226 m, Sutlej, HP) is India\u2019s tallest gravity dam \u2014 a different category.
India has over 5,000 large dams, making it the third country in the world by number of large dams \u2014 after China (first) and the United States (second). Most of India\u2019s dams were built between 1950 and 1980, during the rapid infrastructure expansion after independence. These dams serve multiple purposes including irrigation (the largest use), hydroelectric power generation, flood control, and drinking water supply.
The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA \u2014 Save the Narmada Movement) is a social movement that opposed the construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada River in Gujarat. Led primarily by activist Medha Patkar, the movement focused on the displacement of thousands of tribal communities (Adivasis) from the Narmada valley whose villages were submerged by the rising reservoir. The Supreme Court allowed the dam\u2019s height to be raised in stages, and the Sardar Sarovar Dam was fully completed in 2017. It remains a landmark case in environmental justice and dam-related displacement in India.
Dams are consistently tested in UPSC Prelims (Geography + Environment), SSC CGL, Bank PO, and Railway exams because they combine physical geography (which river, which state), infrastructure knowledge (type of dam, height, reservoir), and current affairs (recent completions, disputes, movements). Key question patterns include: tallest dam (Tehri), highest gravity dam (Bhakra Nangal), longest dam (Hirakud), oldest dam (Kallanai), largest reservoir by storage (Indira Sagar), largest by surface area (Gobind Ballabh Pant Sagar), dam-river associations, and dam-controversy links (Sardar Sarovar, Farakka, Mullaperiyar).
