India now has 5,334 dams, 447 of which are extremely significant. Dams are significant buildings because they are built across rivers or streams to hold back water. They are barriers that can be used to store water, regulate flooding, and produce electricity. Dams build reservoirs that store water for irrigation, flood control, aquaculture of plants and animals, and navigation.
Dams related question regularly asked in many government competitive exams such as Banking, SSC, Railway, UPSSSC, BPSC, NDA/NA, CDS and all other State level Exams etc.
Important Dams (Longest, Oldest, Highest) in India
| Longest Dam in India | Hirakud Dam (Odisha) | Total Length: 25.79 km (16.03 miles) Length of Main Dam:4.8 km (3.0 miles) River: MahanadiLocation: Odisha Year of completion:1953 |
| Oldest Dam in India | Kallanai Dam (Tamil Nadu) | River: Kaveri Location: Tamil Nadu Year of Completion: 100 BC –100 AD |
| Highest Dam in India / Dam in India | Tehri Dam (Uttarakhand) | Height: 260.5 meters Length: 575 meters River: Bhagirathi River Location: Uttarakhand Year of completion:2006 (1st phase) |
List of most Important Dams in India
| Name of Dams | State | River Name |
|---|---|---|
| Bhavani Sagar dam | Tamil Nadu | Bhavani |
| Tungabhadra Dam | Karnataka | Tungabhadra |
| Rihand Dam | Uttar Pradesh | Rihand |
| Maithon Dam | Jharkhand | Barakar |
| Koyna Dam | Maharashtra | Koyna |
| Bisalpur Dam | Rajasthan | Banas |
| Mettur Dam | Tamil Nadu | Kaveri |
| Krishnarajasagar Dam | Karnataka | Kaveri |
| Indira Sagar Dam | Madhya Pradesh | Narmada |
| Cheruthoni Dam | Kerala | Cheruthoni |
| Sardar Sarovar Dam | Gujarat | Narmada |
| Nagarjuna Sagar Dam | Telangana | Krishna |
| Hirakud dam | Odisha | Mahanadi |
| Bhakra Nangal Dam | Punjab-Himachal Pradesh Border | Sutlej |
| Tehri Dam | Uttarakhand | Bhagirathi |
List of All Dams in India
| Name of Dams | State | River Name |
|---|---|---|
| Nizam Sagar Dam | Telangana | Manjira River |
| Somasila Dam | Andhra Pradesh | Pennar River |
| Srisailam Dam | Andhra Pradesh | Krishna River |
| Singur dam | Telangana | Manjira River |
| Ukai Dam | Gujarat | Tapti River |
| Dharoi Dam | Gujarat | Sabarmati River |
| Kadana dam | Gujarat | Mahi River |
| Dantiwada Dam | Gujarat | Banas River |
| Pandoh Dam | Himachal Pradesh | Beas River |
| Bhakra Nangal Dam | Himachal Pradesh and Punjab Border | Sutlej River |
| Nathpa Jhakri Dam | Himachal Pradesh | Satluj River |
| Chamera Dam | Himachal Pradesh | Ravi River |
| Baglihar Dam | Jammu and Kashmir | Chenab River |
| Dumkhar Hydroelectric Dam | Jammu and Kashmir | Indus River |
| Uri Hydroelectric Dam | Jammu and Kashmir | Jhelum River |
| Maithon Dam | Jharkhand | Barakar River |
| Chandil Dam | Jharkhand | Swarnarekha River |
| Panchet Dam | Jharkhand | Damodar River |
| Tunga Bhadra Dam | Karnataka | Tungabhadra River |
| Linganamakki dam | Karnataka | Sharavathi River |
| Kadra Dam | Karnataka | Kalinadi River |
| Alamatti Dam | Karnataka | Krishna River |
| Supa Dam | Karnataka | Kalinadi or Kali river |
| Krishna Raja Sagara Dam | Karnataka | Kaveri River |
| Harangi Dam | Karnataka | Harangi River |
| Narayanpur Dam | Karnataka | Krishna River |
| Kodasalli Dam | Karnataka | Kali River |
| Malampuzha Dam | Kerala | Malampuzha River |
| Peechi Dam | Kerala | Manali River |
| Idukki Dam | Kerala | Periyar River |
| Kundala Dam | Kerala | Kundala Lake |
| Parambikulam Dam | Kerala | Parambikulam River |
| Walayar Dam | Kerala | Walayar River |
| Mullaperiyar Dam | Kerala | Periyar River |
| Neyyar Dam | Kerala | Neyyar River |
| Rajghat Dam | Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh Border | Betwa River |
| Barna Dam | Madhya Pradesh | Barna River |
| Bargi Dam | Madhya Pradesh | Narmada River |
| Bansagar Dam | Madhya Pradesh | Sone River |
| Gandhi Sagar Dam | Madhya Pradesh | Chambal River |
| Yeldari Dam | Maharashtra | Purna river |
| Ujani Dam | Maharashtra | Bhima River |
| Pawna Dam | Maharashtra | Maval River |
| Mulshi Dam | Maharashtra | Mula River |
| Koyna Dam | Maharashtra | Koyna River |
| Jayakwadi Dam | Maharashtra | Godavari River |
| Bhatsa Dam | Maharashtra | Bhatsa river |
| Wilson Dam | Maharashtra | Pravara River |
| Tansa Dam | Maharashtra | Tansa river |
| Panshet Dam | Maharashtra | Ambi River |
| Mula Dam | Maharashtra | Mula river |
| Kolkewadi Dam | Maharashtra | Vashishti River |
| Girna Dam | Maharashtra | Girana river |
| Vaitarna Dam | Maharashtra | Vaitarna river |
| Radhanagari Dam | Telangana | Bhogawati River |
| Lower Manair Dam | Telangana | Manair River |
| Mid Manair Dam | Telangana | Manair River and SRSP Flood Flow Canal |
| Upper Manair Dam | Telangana | Manair River and Kudlair River |
| Khadakwasla Dam | Maharashtra | Mutha River |
| Gangapur Dam | Maharashtra | Godavari river |
| Jalaput Dam | Andhra Pradesh and Odisha Border | Machkund River |
| Indravati Dam | Odisha | Indravati River |
| Hirakud Dam | Odisha | Mahanadi River |
| Vaigai Dam | Tamil Nadu | Vaigai River |
| Perunchani Dam | Tamil Nadu | Paralayar River |
| Mettur Dam | Tamil Nadu | Kaveri River |
| Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar Dam / Rihand dam | Uttar Pradesh | Rihand River |
| Tehri Dam | Uttarakhand | Bhagirathi River |
| Dhauli Ganga Dam | Uttarakhand | Dhauli Ganga River |