Dams in India – Importance & MCQs
Dams are very important for India because they give water for farming, drinking, and making electricity. Many big dams are built on rivers in South India such as the Narmada, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Mahanadi, and Tapi. These dams also help in controlling floods and sharing water between different states. Some of the most famous dams are the Sardar Sarovar on the Narmada, Nagarjuna Sagar on the Krishna, Hirakud on the Mahanadi, and Kallanai on the Kaveri. To help students preparing for UPSC, State PSC, SSC, and other exams, we have made a list of MCQs. These questions will check your knowledge about where these dams are located and why they are important for India.
Which major dam built across the Narmada River in Gujarat provides water and electricity to four states, including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan?
- a) Ukai Dam
- b) Sardar Sarovar Dam
- c) Tawa Dam
- d) Koyna Dam
Answer: b) Sardar Sarovar Dam
In Madhya Pradesh, the Tawa Dam—marking the edge of Satpura National Park—has been built across which river?
- a) Tapi River
- b) Tawa River
- c) Godavari River
- d) Bhima River
Answer: b) Tawa River
The Krishna Raja Sagara Dam was constructed under the leadership of which famous engineer?
- a) M. Visvesvaraya
- b) K. Seshadri Iyer
- c) Mokshagundam Naidu
- d) B. R. Ambedkar
Answer: a) M. Visvesvaraya
The Srisailam Dam is built on the border of which two states?
- a) Maharashtra & Karnataka
- b) Andhra Pradesh & Telangana
- c) Odisha & Chhattisgarh
- d) Tamil Nadu & Kerala
Answer: b) Andhra Pradesh & Telangana
The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, the world’s largest multi-stage lift irrigation system, is constructed on which river?
- a) Krishna River
- b) Godavari River
- c) Mahanadi River
- d) Kaveri River
Answer: b) Godavari River
The Polavaram Project in Andhra Pradesh, designed for multiple uses like irrigation and water supply, is linked to which major river?
- a) Tungabhadra River
- b) Godavari River
- c) Penna River
- d) Sabarmati River
Answer: b) Godavari River
Located in Telangana, the Kadam Dam is built for irrigation on a tributary of the Godavari River. What is the name of this tributary?
- a) Manjira River
- b) Kadam River
- c) Bhima River
- d) Penganga River
Answer: b) Kadam River
Isapur Dam, built in Maharashtra, is located on which tributary of the Godavari River?
- a) Manjira River
- b) Penganga River
- c) Kadam River
- d) Penna River
Answer: b) Penganga River
The Nizam Sagar Dam in Telangana is built on which tributary of the Godavari River and also supplies water to Hyderabad?
- a) Kadam River
- b) Penganga River
- c) Manjira River
- d) Bhima River
Answer: c) Manjira River
Which dam built on the Manjeera River in Telangana is the major source of drinking water for Hyderabad city?
- a) Srisailam Dam
- b) Singur Dam
- c) Almatti Dam
- d) Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
Answer: b) Singur Dam
Situated on the border of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam—one of the biggest masonry dams globally—is built over which river?
- a) Kaveri River
- b) Krishna River
- c) Godavari River
- d) Penna River
Answer: b) Krishna River
In Karnataka, the Almatti Dam—also referred to as the Lal Bahadur Shastri Dam—is a hydroelectric project built on which river?
- a) Kaveri River
- b) Tungabhadra River
- c) Krishna River
- d) Sabarmati River
Answer: c) Krishna River
Built on the Krishna River along the Andhra Pradesh–Telangana border, which dam ranks second in hydroelectric power capacity in India?
- a) Hirakud Dam
- b) Srisailam Dam
- c) Koyna Dam
- d) Mettur Dam
Answer: b) Srisailam Dam
The oldest functional dam in India is:
- a) Hirakud Dam
- b) Kallanai Dam
- c) Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
- d) Mettur Dam
Answer: b) Kallanai Dam
Somasila Dam, located in Andhra Pradesh, is constructed across which tributary of the Krishna River?
- a) Penna River
- b) Tungabhadra River
- c) Manjira River
- d) Penganga River
Answer: a) Penna River
Which dam, also known as the Ujjani Dam, is built on the Bhima River in Maharashtra, a tributary of the Krishna River?
- a) Almatti Dam
- b) Ujjani Dam
- c) Kadam Dam
- d) Kallanai Dam
Answer: b) Ujjani Dam
Koyna Dam, a major hydroelectric project and one of the biggest dams in Maharashtra, is constructed on which river?
- a) Koyna River
- b) Krishna River
- c) Bhima River
- d) Tapi River
Answer: a) Koyna River
The Kallanai Dam, also called the Grand Anicut, is one of the oldest functioning dams in India, built by the Chola dynasty on which river?
- a) Krishna River
- b) Kaveri River
- c) Godavari River
- d) Tungabhadra River
Answer: b) Kaveri River
The Polavaram Project is primarily located in which Indian state?
- a) Odisha
- b) Telangana
- c) Andhra Pradesh
- d) Maharashtra
Answer: c) Andhra Pradesh
Mettur Dam, which creates the Stanley Reservoir and is the biggest dam in Tamil Nadu, is built on which river?
- a) Krishna River
- b) Kaveri River
- c) Tungabhadra River
- d) Godavari River
Answer: b) Kaveri River
The Hirakud Dam in Odisha, known as the longest earthen dam in the world, is constructed on which river?
- a) Godavari River
- b) Mahanadi River
- c) Kaveri River
- d) Krishna River
Answer: b) Mahanadi River
The Tikrapara Dam in Odisha is constructed across which river?
- a) Sabarmati River
- b) Mahanadi River
- c) Kaveri River
- d) Tungabhadra River
Answer: b) Mahanadi River
Which dam project includes a captive thermal power plant along with its irrigation functions, located on the Mahanadi River?
- a) Somasila Dam
- b) Hirakud Dam
- c) Srisailam Dam
- d) Ukai Dam
Answer: b) Hirakud Dam
Which multipurpose dam on the Krishna River is known for being one of the earliest large-scale projects after Indian independence?
- a) Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
- b) Almatti Dam
- c) Tungabhadra Dam
- d) Srisailam Dam
Answer: a) Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
Which river hosts both the Almatti Dam and Srisailam Dam, two major hydroelectric projects?
- a) Godavari River
- b) Krishna River
- c) Mahanadi River
- d) Kaveri River
Answer: b) Krishna River
