Major dams of India
India has over 5,000 large dams, the third most in the world; exams ask which river each famous dam sits on.
What the paper can ask
- The 2019 national register listed 5,334 completed large dams and 411 under construction; the 2023 register lists 6,138 completed and 143 under construction. India ranks third after China and the US. (as of 2 Nov 2026)
- Bhakra dam on the Sutlej (Himachal Pradesh, 1963) and Pong dam on the Beas; Nagarjuna Sagar and Srisailam on the Krishna.
- Sardar Sarovar (Gujarat) and Indira Sagar (Madhya Pradesh) are both on the Narmada; Idukki is on the Periyar in Kerala.
- The Narmada's Sardar Sarovar is the largest structure of the Narmada Valley Project, opposed by the Narmada Bachao Andolan.
Why exams ask
Which river a dam sits on, the tallest and the longest dams, and which state they lie in are the standard questions.
The full story
A large dam stores river water for irrigation, drinking supply, flood control and hydroelectric power. India had about 5,334 large dams in 2019, behind only China and the United States.
Test yourself
1.The Hirakud Dam near Sambalpur, one of the longest earthen dams in the world, is built on which river?
Correct. Hirakud Dam in Odisha is on the Mahanadi. One of the first major multipurpose river valley projects after independence, it was inaugurated by Nehru on 13 January 1957.
Not quite. Hirakud Dam in Odisha is on the Mahanadi. One of the first major multipurpose river valley projects after independence, it was inaugurated by Nehru on 13 January 1957. It goes into your error book.