Major Dams in India – 30 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with Answers and Detailed Explanations

Exam Focus: UPSC • SSC • Banking • Railways • PSC • State Government Exams • Other Competitive Exams

---

MCQ 1. Which is the highest dam in India?

A. Bhakra Dam
B. Tehri Dam
C. Hirakud Dam
D. Nagarjuna Sagar Dam

✅ Correct Answer: B. Tehri Dam

Explanation:

Tehri Dam, built across the Bhagirathi River in Uttarakhand, is the highest dam in India with a height of 260.5 metres. It is a multipurpose project used for hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, and drinking water supply.

• A. Bhakra Dam – Height is about 226 metres.
• B. Tehri Dam – Correct. Highest dam in India.
• C. Hirakud Dam – Famous for being one of the world’s longest earthen dams.
• D. Nagarjuna Sagar Dam – One of the largest masonry dams.

---

MCQ 2. Tehri Dam is built on which river?

A. Alaknanda
B. Bhagirathi
C. Yamuna
D. Mandakini

✅ Correct Answer: B. Bhagirathi

Explanation:

The Bhagirathi River is one of the principal headstreams of the Ganga. Tehri Dam is located near Tehri town in Uttarakhand.

• Alaknanda joins Bhagirathi at Devprayag.
• Mandakini joins Alaknanda.
• Yamuna is a separate river system.

---

MCQ 3. Bhakra Dam is constructed across which river?

A. Beas
B. Ravi
C. Sutlej
D. Chenab

✅ Correct Answer: C. Sutlej

Explanation:

Bhakra Dam is one of India’s largest concrete gravity dams and is built across the Sutlej River in Himachal Pradesh.

It provides:

• Hydroelectricity
• Irrigation
• Flood control

---

MCQ 4. Bhakra Dam forms which famous reservoir?

A. Govind Sagar Lake
B. Gandhi Sagar Lake
C. Indira Sagar Lake
D. Rihand Reservoir

✅ Correct Answer: A. Govind Sagar Lake

Explanation:

The reservoir formed by Bhakra Dam is Govind Sagar Lake, named after Guru Gobind Singh.

It is one of India’s largest artificial reservoirs.

---

MCQ 5. Hirakud Dam is situated on which river?

A. Mahanadi
B. Godavari
C. Krishna
D. Narmada

✅ Correct Answer: A. Mahanadi

Explanation:

Hirakud Dam is built across the Mahanadi River in Odisha.

It is famous because:

• It is one of the world’s longest earthen dams.
• It controls floods in Odisha.
• It generates hydroelectricity.

---

MCQ 6. Hirakud Dam is located in which state?

A. Chhattisgarh
B. Odisha
C. Jharkhand
D. West Bengal

✅ Correct Answer: B. Odisha

Explanation:

Hirakud Dam is located near Sambalpur in Odisha.

Its major functions include:

• Irrigation
• Flood control
• Power generation

---

MCQ 7. Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is built across which river?

A. Krishna
B. Godavari
C. Tungabhadra
D. Kaveri

✅ Correct Answer: A. Krishna

Explanation:

Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is one of the largest masonry dams in the world.

It is built across the Krishna River between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

---

MCQ 8. Sardar Sarovar Dam is built on which river?

A. Tapi
B. Sabarmati
C. Narmada
D. Mahi

✅ Correct Answer: C. Narmada

Explanation:

The Sardar Sarovar Project is one of India’s biggest river valley projects.

Benefits include:

• Drinking water
• Irrigation
• Hydroelectricity

---

MCQ 9. Sardar Sarovar Dam is primarily located in which state?

A. Maharashtra
B. Gujarat
C. Madhya Pradesh
D. Rajasthan

✅ Correct Answer: B. Gujarat

Explanation:

The dam is situated in Gujarat near Kevadia.

Although the Narmada flows through multiple states, the dam itself is located in Gujarat.

---

MCQ 10. Which dam is one of the world’s longest earthen dams?

A. Bhakra Dam
B. Hirakud Dam
C. Tehri Dam
D. Rihand Dam

✅ Correct Answer: B. Hirakud Dam

Explanation:

Hirakud Dam stretches approximately 25.8 km including dykes, making it one of the longest earthen dams globally.

---

MCQ 11. Idukki Dam is located in which state?

A. Karnataka
B. Tamil Nadu
C. Kerala
D. Goa

✅ Correct Answer: C. Kerala

Explanation:

Idukki Dam is built across the Periyar River in Kerala.

It is an important hydroelectric project.

---

MCQ 12. Idukki Dam is built on which river?

A. Bharathapuzha
B. Periyar
C. Pamba
D. Chalakudy

✅ Correct Answer: B. Periyar

Explanation:

Periyar is the longest river of Kerala.

The Idukki Hydroelectric Project is one of India’s major power projects.

---

MCQ 13. Which dam is famous for generating hydroelectric power in Uttarakhand?

A. Tehri Dam
B. Bhakra Dam
C. Koyna Dam
D. Gandhi Sagar Dam

✅ Correct Answer: A. Tehri Dam

Explanation:

Tehri Dam has an installed hydroelectric capacity of over 1,000 MW, making it one of India’s largest hydropower projects.

---

MCQ 14. Koyna Dam is located in which state?

A. Maharashtra
B. Gujarat
C. Karnataka
D. Goa

✅ Correct Answer: A. Maharashtra

Explanation:

Koyna Dam is built on the Koyna River in Maharashtra and is India’s largest completed hydroelectric power station.

---

MCQ 15. Koyna Dam is built across which river?

A. Krishna
B. Godavari
C. Koyna
D. Bhima

✅ Correct Answer: C. Koyna

Explanation:

The Koyna River is a tributary of the Krishna River.

The dam is primarily used for hydroelectric power.

---

MCQ 16. Which river flows through Bhakra Dam?

A. Sutlej
B. Ravi
C. Chenab
D. Beas

✅ Correct Answer: A. Sutlej

Explanation:

The Sutlej originates in Tibet and enters India through Himachal Pradesh.

Bhakra Dam is one of the major projects on this river.

---

MCQ 17. Rihand Dam is built on which river?

A. Son
B. Rihand
C. Chambal
D. Betwa

✅ Correct Answer: B. Rihand

Explanation:

Rihand Dam is located in Uttar Pradesh and creates the Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar reservoir.

---

MCQ 18. Gandhi Sagar Dam is built across which river?

A. Chambal
B. Betwa
C. Ken
D. Son

✅ Correct Answer: A. Chambal

Explanation:

Gandhi Sagar Dam is one of the four major dams in the Chambal Valley Project.

---

MCQ 19. Which dam is associated with the Chambal Valley Project?

A. Gandhi Sagar Dam
B. Hirakud Dam
C. Idukki Dam
D. Mettur Dam

✅ Correct Answer: A. Gandhi Sagar Dam

Explanation:

The Chambal Valley Project includes:

• Gandhi Sagar Dam
• Rana Pratap Sagar Dam
• Jawahar Sagar Dam

These provide irrigation and hydroelectric power.

---

MCQ 20. Mettur Dam is built across which river?

A. Godavari
B. Krishna
C. Kaveri
D. Vaigai

✅ Correct Answer: C. Kaveri

Explanation:

Mettur Dam is one of Tamil Nadu’s most important irrigation dams.

It forms the Stanley Reservoir.

---

MCQ 21. Mettur Dam is located in which state?

A. Karnataka
B. Andhra Pradesh
C. Tamil Nadu
D. Kerala

✅ Correct Answer: C. Tamil Nadu

Explanation:

Located in Salem district, the Mettur Dam plays a vital role in irrigation and power generation.

---

MCQ 22. Which reservoir is formed by Mettur Dam?

A. Stanley Reservoir
B. Govind Sagar
C. Indira Sagar
D. Gandhi Sagar

✅ Correct Answer: A. Stanley Reservoir

Explanation:

The Stanley Reservoir is one of Tamil Nadu’s largest reservoirs.

---

MCQ 23. Indira Sagar Dam is built on which river?

A. Krishna
B. Narmada
C. Godavari
D. Tapi

✅ Correct Answer: B. Narmada

Explanation:

Indira Sagar Dam in Madhya Pradesh is one of India’s largest reservoir projects.

---

MCQ 24. Which dam is located on the Periyar River?

A. Idukki Dam
B. Bhakra Dam
C. Hirakud Dam
D. Tehri Dam

✅ Correct Answer: A. Idukki Dam

Explanation:

Idukki Dam is an arch dam built across the Periyar River and is famous for hydroelectric power generation.

---

MCQ 25. Which of the following dams is a concrete gravity dam?

A. Bhakra Dam
B. Hirakud Dam
C. Tehri Dam
D. Idukki Dam

✅ Correct Answer: A. Bhakra Dam

Explanation:

Bhakra Dam is a concrete gravity dam.

• Hirakud – Earthen dam
• Tehri – Earth and rock-fill dam
• Idukki – Arch dam

---

MCQ 26. Which dam is an earth and rock-fill dam?

A. Bhakra Dam
B. Tehri Dam
C. Idukki Dam
D. Mettur Dam

✅ Correct Answer: B. Tehri Dam

Explanation:

Tehri Dam is one of the world’s tallest earth and rock-fill dams.

This type provides flexibility and stability in mountainous terrain.

---

MCQ 27. Which type of dam is Idukki Dam?

A. Earthen Dam
B. Gravity Dam
C. Arch Dam
D. Masonry Barrage

✅ Correct Answer: C. Arch Dam

Explanation:

An arch dam transfers water pressure to the valley walls.

Idukki Dam is one of Asia’s tallest arch dams.

---

MCQ 28. Which dam is mainly known for flood control in the Mahanadi basin?

A. Bhakra Dam
B. Hirakud Dam
C. Koyna Dam
D. Mettur Dam

✅ Correct Answer: B. Hirakud Dam

Explanation:

One of the primary objectives of Hirakud Dam was to reduce devastating floods in the Mahanadi delta while also providing irrigation and electricity.

---

MCQ 29. Which of the following river-dam pairs is correctly matched?

A. Bhakra — Krishna
B. Hirakud — Mahanadi
C. Tehri — Godavari
D. Idukki — Kaveri

✅ Correct Answer: B. Hirakud — Mahanadi

Explanation:

• Bhakra — Sutlej ❌
• Hirakud — Mahanadi ✅
• Tehri — Bhagirathi ❌
• Idukki — Periyar ❌

River–dam pair questions are frequently asked in competitive examinations.

---

MCQ 30. Which of the following is correctly matched?

A. Tehri — Uttarakhand — Bhagirathi River
B. Bhakra — Rajasthan — Chambal River
C. Hirakud — Gujarat — Narmada River
D. Mettur — Kerala — Periyar River

✅ Correct Answer: A. Tehri — Uttarakhand — Bhagirathi River

Explanation:

The correct combinations are:

• Tehri Dam – Uttarakhand – Bhagirathi River ✅
• Bhakra Dam – Himachal Pradesh – Sutlej River
• Hirakud Dam – Odisha – Mahanadi River
• Mettur Dam – Tamil Nadu – Kaveri River

Exam Tip: Questions asking you to match Dam – River – State – Reservoir – Type of Dam are very common in UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railways, PSC, and other state-level competitive examinations. Memorizing these five attributes together improves accuracy in objective-type questions.