Dams in India Questions and Answers

Important dams in India: Tehri Dam (Uttarakhand) - highest dam in India, Bhakra Nangal Dam (Himachal Pradesh/Punjab) - largest reservoir, Sardar Sarovar Dam (Gujarat) - Narmada river, Hirakud Dam (Odisha) - longest dam, Nagarjuna Sagar Dam (Telangana), Indira Sagar Dam (MP), Rana Pratap Sagar Dam (Rajasthan). These are frequently asked in SSC CGL, UPSC, and Railway exams.

Tehri Dam in Uttarakhand is the highest dam in India at 261 meters height. It is built on the Bhagirathi River (a tributary of the Ganga). Tehri Dam is a multi-purpose project used for hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, and water supply to Delhi. The dam submerged the old Tehri town. It is also one of the tallest dams in the world and an important GK question for competitive exams.

Hirakud Dam in Odisha is the longest dam in India and one of the longest earthen dams in the world. It is built across the Mahanadi River near Sambalpur. The dam is 25.8 km long including dykes. It was the first major multipurpose project of independent India completed in 1957. Hirakud Dam facts are important for SSC, UPSC, and Odisha state PSC exams.

Bhakra Nangal Dam is built on the Sutlej River in Himachal Pradesh (Bhakra) and Punjab (Nangal). It is the second highest dam in India at 226 meters. The Gobind Sagar reservoir behind it is the largest reservoir in India. Jawaharlal Nehru called it a New Temple of Resurgent India. It serves Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan through the Bhakra canal system.

Major dams on Narmada River: Sardar Sarovar Dam (Gujarat) provides water to Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and MP; Indira Sagar Dam (Madhya Pradesh) has largest reservoir capacity in India; Omkareshwar Dam (MP); Maheshwar Dam (MP); Bargi Dam (MP). The Narmada River dams are important for irrigation, power generation, and drinking water supply in western and central India.