Which is the highest dam in India?
Dams & Reservoirs
By Priya Sharma · Static GK Expert
A comprehensive collection of 20 high-quality MCQ questions covering major dams and reservoirs across India for competitive exams.
The Hirakud Dam, one of the longest dams in the world, is constructed across which river?
Which dam is situated on the Betwa River in Uttar Pradesh?
Which reservoir is known as 'Govind Sagar'?
Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is built across which river?
Which of the following dams is located in the state of Kerala?
Sardar Sarovar Dam is located on which river?
Which dam is often called the 'Temple of Modern India' by Jawaharlal Nehru?
The Gandhi Sagar Dam is part of which project?
Which dam in India is built on the Ravi River?
Rihand Dam is also known by which name?
Mettur Dam is located in which state?
Which river does the Almatti Dam obstruct?
Which dam is located on the Periyar River?
Panchet Dam is located in which state?
Which of these dams is built on the Beas River?
Tungabhadra Dam is a joint venture of which two states?
Which of the following is an arch dam?
The Salal Hydroelectric Power Station is located on which river?
Ukai Dam is constructed across which river?
Which dam is constructed across the Sutlej River in Himachal Pradesh and forms the Govind Sagar Reservoir?
The Koyna Dam, one of the largest dams in Maharashtra, is located on which river?
Indira Sagar Dam, which has one of the largest reservoirs in India, is built across which river?
Which dam in Uttarakhand is known as the Tehri Dam and is built at the confluence of the Bhagirathi and Bhilangana rivers?
Maithon Dam is located in which state and is built across which river?
The Krishnarajasagara Dam (KRS) is built across which river in Karnataka?
Which of the following dams is built across the Mahanadi River in Chhattisgarh?
Idukki Dam in Kerala is an arch dam constructed across which river?
Which dam is constructed across the Tapti River in Gujarat?
The Jayakwadi Dam is one of the largest irrigation projects in Maharashtra, built across which river?
Which dam is known as the 'Gateway of Punjab' and is built across the Ravi River?
Matatila Dam is located on which river on the border of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh?
Which dam is built across the Chambal River in Rajasthan?
What is the primary purpose of the Srisailam Dam built across the Krishna River?
Which dam is located on the Banas River in Rajasthan?
The Tilaiya Dam was the first dam constructed by the Damodar Valley Corporation. On which river is it located?
Which dam is built on the Bhima River in Maharashtra?
Which of these dams is situated in the state of Odisha?
The Mullaperiyar Dam is a masonry gravity dam located in Kerala, but it is operated by which state?
Which dam is constructed across the Sharavati River in Karnataka?
The Pong Dam, also known as the Maharana Pratap Sagar, is built across which river in Himachal Pradesh?
Which of the following dams is located in the state of Jharkhand and is built across the Barakar River?
Sholayar Dam, one of the most important dams in Kerala, is situated in which district?
Which reservoir is formed behind the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam?
The Lower Bhavani Dam is located in which Indian state?
Which river does the Bansagar Dam obstruct in Madhya Pradesh?
What is the primary reservoir associated with the Sardar Sarovar Dam?
Which dam is constructed across the Indravati River in Odisha?
The Bargi Dam is built across which river in Madhya Pradesh?
Which of the following dams is not located in the state of Maharashtra?
Important Notes — Dams & Reservoirs
Overview of Dams and Reservoirs in India
India possesses a vast network of dams and reservoirs, which are vital for irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, flood control, and water supply. In competitive exams like UPSC and SSC, questions frequently focus on river-dam associations, state locations, and multipurpose river valley projects.
Key Classifications and Statistics
- Total Capacity: India ranks third globally in the number of large dams, trailing only China and the USA.
- National Dam Safety Authority: Established under the Dam Safety Act, 2021, this body oversees the safety and maintenance of large dams to ensure structural integrity.
- Oldest Dam: The Kallanai Dam (Grand Anicut) on the Kaveri River in Tamil Nadu is one of the oldest functioning water-diversion structures in the world, dating back to the 2nd century CE.
- Highest Dam: The Tehri Dam in Uttarakhand is the tallest in India, with a height of 260.5 meters. It is built on the Bhagirathi River.
- Longest Dam: The Hirakud Dam in Odisha is the longest earthen dam in the world, stretching over 25.8 km across the Mahanadi River.
Major Multipurpose River Valley Projects
These projects are known as the "Temples of Modern India," a term coined by Jawaharlal Nehru to highlight their role in industrial and agricultural progress.
Important Dams for Competitive Exams
- Bhakra Nangal Project: A joint venture between Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan on the Sutlej River. It created the Gobind Sagar Reservoir, one of the largest in India.
- Nagarjuna Sagar Dam: Located in Telangana/Andhra Pradesh, this is the world's largest masonry dam, built across the Krishna River.
- Sardar Sarovar Dam: Built on the Narmada River in Gujarat, it is a key project under the Narmada Valley Development Project, providing water to arid regions of Kutch and Saurashtra.
- Idukki Dam: A massive arch dam situated in Kerala on the Periyar River, vital for hydroelectric power generation in the region.
- Pong Dam: Located on the Beas River in Himachal Pradesh, it creates the Maharana Pratap Sagar, a major wetland and bird sanctuary.
Exam-Oriented Quick Facts
- Interstate Disputes: Projects like the Mullaperiyar Dam (Kerala-Tamil Nadu) and Almatti Dam (Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh-Telangana) are frequently in the news; understanding the river basin conflicts is essential for UPSC Mains.
- Environmental Impact: Major concerns revolve around displacement of tribal populations, loss of biodiversity, and sedimentation in reservoirs, which reduces storage capacity over time.
- Classification: Dams are categorized by material (earth-fill, concrete, or masonry) and function (multipurpose, storage, or diversion).
*Note: For aspirants, memorizing the state-river-dam matrix is the most effective way to secure marks in GK sections.*
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Dams & Reservoirs of India MCQ — Tehri, Bhakra Nangal & Hydro Projects for UPSC SSC 2026
Dams and reservoirs MCQ questions are standard in SSC CGL, RRB NTPC, UPSC Prelims, and State PSC exams. Key facts tested include the river on which a dam is built, the state, the type of dam (gravity, arch, earthen), the purpose (hydropower, irrigation, flood control), and superlatives (largest, tallest, oldest).
Tehri Dam (Uttarakhand) on the Bhagirathi river is India's tallest dam at 260.5 m and one of the tallest in the world. It is also among India's largest hydroelectric projects with 2,400 MW capacity. Bhakra Dam (Himachal Pradesh) on the Sutlej river was built jointly with the Nangal Dam as the Bhakra-Nangal Project — India's first major multipurpose river valley project, inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru.
Major Dams — State, River & Purpose
- Bhakra Dam — Sutlej, Himachal Pradesh; tallest gravity dam in Asia (226 m)
- Tehri Dam — Bhagirathi, Uttarakhand; tallest dam in India (260.5 m)
- Hirakud Dam — Mahanadi, Odisha; longest dam in the world (4.8 km)
- Nagarjuna Sagar Dam — Krishna, Telangana/Andhra Pradesh; world's largest masonry dam
- Sardar Sarovar Dam — Narmada, Gujarat; largest dam by volume in India
- Indira Sagar Dam — Narmada, Madhya Pradesh; largest reservoir by capacity in India
- Idukki Dam — Periyar, Kerala; largest arch dam in Asia
- Mettur Dam — Cauvery, Tamil Nadu; oldest large dam in South India (1934)
River Valley Projects — Multipurpose & Hydro Power
Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) — established in 1948 modelled on the Tennessee Valley Authority (USA) — was India's first river valley project. It covers Jharkhand and West Bengal. The Koyna Project (Maharashtra) on the Koyna river feeds the Koyna Hydroelectric Plant (1,960 MW), the largest completed hydroelectric project in Maharashtra. The Sardar Sarovar Project on the Narmada is India's most controversial dam — a landmark Supreme Court case allowed its construction subject to rehabilitation conditions.
FAQ: Dams and Reservoirs MCQ India
Tehri Dam on the Bhagirathi river in Uttarakhand is India's tallest dam at 260.5 metres. It is a rock and earth-fill embankment dam.
Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi river in Odisha is the world's longest dam at approximately 4.8 km (26 km including dykes and earthen embankments).
About the Author
Indian History · Geography · Polity & Economy Specialist
With 8+ years of teaching static GK for competitive exams, Priya has helped thousands of students master the foundational subjects that appear year after year in UPSC, SSC, and Railway exams. She focuses on making history, geography, and polity approachable through well-structured MCQs and memorable explanations.