{"id":5663,"date":"2026-09-10T10:51:12","date_gmt":"2026-09-10T05:21:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/?p=5663"},"modified":"2026-09-10T11:21:14","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T05:51:14","slug":"dams-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/dams-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"List of Major Dams in India, Names, Significance, Impacts"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dams have been pivotal in India's development, providing crucial irrigation for agriculture, clean hydroelectric power, and flood control. According to<\/span> the <\/span>7th Schedule of the Indian Constitution, <\/b>water management falls under state jurisdiction. There are more than 5,000 major dams in India, making it one of the countries with the largest number of large dams in the world after China and the United States.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

However, a recent study by the <\/span>United Nations<\/b> University- Institute on Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH)<\/b> raises concerns about <\/span>sediment accumulation<\/b>, predicting a 26% loss in storage capacity for around 3,700 Indian dams by 2050.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Major Dams in India Types of Dams<\/span><\/h2>\r\n

A dam is a massive barrier built across a river to retain, store, or redirect water for consumption, irrigation, and power generation. The different types of dams are primarily classified by their structural design, construction materials, and use.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \r\n\t
  • Gravity Dams:<\/b> These massive concrete or masonry structures rely entirely on their own weight to resist water pressure. <\/span>Example<\/span><\/i>: Bhakra Nangal Dam.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  • Arch Dams:<\/b> These curved concrete walls transfer water load sideways directly into strong canyon walls. <\/span>Example<\/span><\/i>: Idukki Dam.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  • Embankment Dams:<\/b> Constructed from compacted earth or rock, these broad barriers suit wide valleys. <\/span>Example: <\/span><\/i>Tehri Dam and Hirakud Dam.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  • Masonry Dams:<\/b> Built using stone blocks bound with mortar, these structures provide high compressive strength. <\/span>Example: <\/span><\/i>Nagarjuna Sagar Dam.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  • Buttress Dams:<\/b> These features consist of a sloping concrete deck supported downstream by triangular concrete buttresses.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  • Barrages:<\/b> Built across rivers to divert water into irrigation canals, these low-head structures utilize adjustable gates. <\/span>Example: <\/span><\/i>Farakka Barrage<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  • Storage Dams:<\/b> These barriers collect and store water for municipal supplies, farming, and power generation.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

    Major Dams in India List<\/span><\/h2>\r\n

    Dams are massive structures used for reservoirs, water supply, and flood control. They are <\/span>gravity-based<\/b>, <\/span>earth-fill dams<\/b>, and <\/span>arch dams<\/b>, which are curved structures that transfer water force horizontally. They are critical components of a country's water management infrastructure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The table below shows important dams in India, their connected rivers, and the states where they are located:<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
    \r\n

    Dam\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    River<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    State<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Tehri Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Bhagirathi<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Uttarakhand<\/span><\/p>\r\n
    \r\n
    \r\n
    \r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Lakhwar Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Yamuna<\/span><\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Ramganga Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Ramganga<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Koteshwar Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Bhagirathi<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Idukki Arch Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Periyar<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Kerala<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Cheruthoni Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Cheruthoni<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Kakki Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Kakki<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Idamalayar Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Idamalayar\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Mattupetty Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Muthirapuzha River (tributary of Periyar)<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Nizamsagar Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Manjira<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Telangana<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Nagarjuna Sagar Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Krishna<\/span><\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Telangana\/ <\/span>Andhra Pradesh<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Srisailam Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Krishna<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Polavaram Project<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Godavari<\/span><\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Andhra Pradesh<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Supa Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Kali Nadi<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Karnataka<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Krishnarajasagar Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Kaveri<\/span><\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Tungabhadra Dam (Pampa Sagar)<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Tungabhadra River (a tributary of the Krishna)<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Mullaperiyar\u00a0 Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Periyar<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Tamil Nadu<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Mettur Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Cauvery\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Vaigai Dam\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Vaigai\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Bhakra Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Satluj<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Himachal Pradesh<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Chamera Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Ravi<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Pong Dam (Maharana Pratap Sagar)<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Beas<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Nathpa Jhakri Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Sutlej\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Koyna Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Koyna<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Maharashtra<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Bhandardara Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Pravara<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Jayakwadi Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Godavari<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Sardar Sarovar Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Narmada<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Gujarat<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Ukai Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Tapi<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Dantiwada Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Banas\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Hirakud Dam\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Mahanadi\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Odisha<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Mandira Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Sankh\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Rihand Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Rihand<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Uttar Pradesh<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Indira Sagar Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Narmada<\/span><\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Madhya Pradesh<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Omkareshwar Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Narmada\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Gandhi Sagar Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Chambal<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Ranjit Sagar Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Ravi<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Punjab<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Bhakra Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Satluj<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Harike Barrage<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Confluence of the Beas and Sutlej<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		 <\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    \r\n

    Baglihar Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Chenab<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Jammu & Kashmir\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Salal Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Chenab<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Uri Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Jhelum<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Subansiri Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Subansiri<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Arunachal Pradesh<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Dibang Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Dibang\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Kameng Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Bichom and Tenga (Kameng tributaries)<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Hasdeo Bango Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Hasdeo<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Chhattisgarh<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Dudawa Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Mahanadi<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Rana Pratap Sagar Dam\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Chambal\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Rajasthan<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Bisalpur Dam<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Banas<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n

    Major Dams in India Map<\/span><\/h3>\r\n

    The map of major dams in India visually highlights key water reservoirs across the nation's river basins.\\<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \"Major<\/p>\r\n

    Major Dams in India Significance<\/span><\/h2>\r\n

    Dams are critical to India's water management and development efforts. They offer significant benefits, including:<\/span><\/p>\r\n