Access free live classes and tests on the app
Download
+
Unacademy
  • Goals
    • AFCAT
    • AP EAMCET
    • Bank Exam
    • BPSC
    • CA Foundation
    • CAPF
    • CAT
    • CBSE Class 11
    • CBSE Class 12
    • CDS
    • CLAT
    • CSIR UGC
    • GATE
    • IIT JAM
    • JEE
    • Karnataka CET
    • Karnataka PSC
    • Kerala PSC
    • MHT CET
    • MPPSC
    • NDA
    • NEET PG
    • NEET UG
    • NTA UGC
    • Railway Exam
    • SSC
    • TS EAMCET
    • UPSC
    • WBPSC
    • CFA
Login Join for Free
avtar
  • ProfileProfile
  • Settings Settings
  • Refer your friendsRefer your friends
  • Sign outSign out
  • Terms & conditions
  • •
  • Privacy policy
  • About
  • •
  • Careers
  • •
  • Blog

© 2023 Sorting Hat Technologies Pvt Ltd

Watch Free Classes
  • About UPSC
    • Introduction to the CSE
    • Prelims Syllabus
    • Mains Syllabus
      • Essay Paper
      • GS Paper 1
      • GS Paper 2
      • GS Paper 3
      • GS Paper 4
    • Interview
    • Syllabus
    • Annual Calender
    • UPSC Booklists
    • Cut-Offs
  • Downloads
    • PYQs
      • Prelims
      • Mains
      • Previous Year paper analysis Analysis - Mains
    • Free Content
      • Free Content: Prelims : GS, CSAT
      • MCQs
      • Daily News Analysis: Date-wise
      • Important Schemes
      • IAS English Content
      • UPSC Unstoppable content
  • Free Video Lecture
    • Free Special Classes
    • YouTube Classes
      • UPSC Unstoppables
      • Unacademy IAS: English
      • Let's Crack UPSC CSE
      • Let's Crack UPSC CSE Hindi
      • World Affairs by Unacademy
  • Strategy
    • GS Mains
  • Courses
    • Foundation Courses
      • Foundation Program (Hinglish)
      • Foundation Classroom 2026 (Hinglish)
      • Online Classroom Program (English)
      • Online Classroom Program (Hindi)
      • NCERT Foundation Batch (Hindi)
      • Comprehensive Current Affairs Batch
    • Distance Learning Program
      • Prelims Test Series and Printed Notes (English)
      • Prelims Test Series and Digital Notes (English)
      • Mains Test Series and Printed Notes (English)
      • Mains Test Series and Digital Notes (English)
      • Mains Test Series and Printed Notes (Hindi)
    • Current Affairs
      • Daily Current Affairs
    • QEP Mains
    • UPSC CSE Optionals
  • Test Series
    • Prelims
    • Mains
  • Scholarship
    • UCSC
  • Topper's Guide
    • Topper's Notes
    • Topper's Mock Inteview Videos
      • 2022 Topper's
      • 2021 Topper's
    • Learn from Topper's
UPSC » UPSC CSE Study Materials » General Awareness » Dams

Dams

In this article, we will learn about dams, dams upsc notes, dams hindi meaning and more. Here, we also discuss some important questions related to dams as well.

Table of Content
  •  
A dam is a barrier system built to stop, redirect, or regulate the flow of a river (or other Water Bodies). Dams are typically built as a component of a Hydroelectric Power Project. In the future, energy will be produced from the water that the dam has stored in a reservoir. The water that is kept in the dam reservoirs can also be used for drinking as well as irrigation. The various types of dams, which are categorised depending on their structure and usage, will be covered in this article.

Dams

A dam is a building constructed on a river, stream, or estuary to store water. It immediately contributes to ensuring that there is enough water available for agriculture, industry, and human use. Concrete dams & Embankments are the two main categories for modern dams. Streams that flow through small gorges are blocked by concrete or masonry dams, but rivers and streams that flow through large valleys are controlled by embankments. A dam can serve as the main building block of a multifunctional plan created to conserve the water resources on a regional scale. In developing nations, where a single dam may deliver important benefits linked to agricultural expansion, production of hydroelectric power, and industrial growth, multipurpose dams can be especially useful. However, owing to their effects on riparian habitats and migrating fish, dams have come under increased environmental scrutiny. A dam is a physical obstruction that prevents the passage of water, causing the creation of a reservoir. The main purpose of dam design is to use water to produce energy. This kind of electricity is referred to as hydroelectricity.

Types of Dams

Gravity Dams

Gravity dams are made of masonry made of concrete or stone. They are designed to contain backwater by solely using the weight of material and its resistance against the base to resist the horizontal pressure of the water rushing against it. These are constructed in a stable manner that is separate from every other component of the dam.

Arch Dam

A concrete dam that is curved upstream in the plan is known as an arch dam. It is designed such that when water pushes against the arch, hydrostatic pressure exerts pressure on the arch, causing the arch to slightly straighten and stabilise the surface since it pushes through its abutments or base. The most suitable location for an arch dam is a tight canyon or gorge with high, solid rock walls in order to support the construction and stresses.

Arch – Gravity Dam

Both an arch dam and a gravity dam’s characteristics are present in an arch-gravity dam. It is a dam that bends upstream in a constricted curve that directs a large portion of water pressure toward the canyon’s rocky walls. The internal compression of dam by the water reduces the lateral force or the horizontal force acting on the structure.

Embankment Dam

An embankment dam is a large manmade dam. Typically, it is created by placing and compacting a complicated semi-plastic mound with different amounts of rock, sand, mud, and clay. It has a solid, impermeable core for its surface and a natural, semi-pervious waterproof coating.

Barrage

The amount of water which travels through a barrage, a form of low-head diversion dam, can be controlled by opening and closing a succession of broad gates. In order to use river water for irrigation and other systems, the framework has to monitor as well as maintain the elevation of the river upstream.

Earth – Fill Dams

Earth-fill dams, also known as earthen dams, rolled-earth dams, or simply earth dams, are constructed as a simple embankment of well-compacted earth. A homogenous rolled-earth dam can contain a layer of a drain to catch sewage but is made completely of one kind of stone.

List of Important Dams in India

Dams River State
Bhavani Sagar dam Bhavani Tamil Nadu
Tungabhadra Dam Tungabhadra Karnataka
Maithon Dam Barakar Jharkhand
Bisalpur Dam Banas Rajasthan
Krishnarajasagar Dam Kaveri Karnataka
Mettur Dam Kaveri Tamil Nadu
Indira Sagar Dam Narmada Madhya Pradesh
Sardar Sarovar Dam Narmada Gujarat
Hirakud dam Mahanadi Odisha
Nagarjuna Sagar Dam Krishna Telangana
Bhakra Nangal Dam Sutlej Punjab-Himachal Pradesh Border
Tehri Dam Bhagirathi Uttarakhand
Cheruthoni Dam Cheruthoni Kerala

Conclusion

A dam is a physical obstruction that restricts water movement and creates a reservoir. Dams are typically constructed to use water to generate electricity. Hydroelectricity is the name given to this type of electricity. Dams build reservoirs that serve multiple purposes, including flood control, irrigation, aquaculture, industrial use, human consumption, and navigability. There are following types of dams which are given as:
  1. Arch Dam
  2. Gravity Dams
  3. Arch – Gravity Dam
  4. Embankment Dam
  5. Barrage
  6. Earth – Fill Dams
faq

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the UPSC Examination Preparation.

Why are dams built?

Answer: Dams are constructed to hold water, meet agricultural needs, and lessen the effects of flood-related calamit...Read full

Give some advantages to dams.

Answer: There are many advantages of dams from which some of the important are given below; ...Read full

Give some major disadvantages of dams.

Answer: While dams have many positive effects on civilization, they also are the major threats to river ecosystem, ...Read full

What are Embankment Dams?

Answer: A substantial man-made dam is an embankment dam. It is often made by placing and compacting a complicated se...Read full

Answer: Dams are constructed to hold water, meet agricultural needs, and lessen the effects of flood-related calamities. In addition to helping to solve the energy crisis, dams are important for producing hydropower, a clean type of energy.

Answer: There are many advantages of dams from which some of the important are given below;

1. Water storage

One could argue that one of the main purposes of dams and reservoirs is to store water. Reservoir water helps to compensate for water shortages during dry seasons. Additionally, it guarantees a steady supply of water for domestic, commercial, and agricultural use.

2. Irrigation

The function that dams serve in irrigation is one of its most important advantages. Dams have made it much easier for farmers to deal with the issue of watering crops, which has increased crop productivity.

3. Production of Electricity

In many Indian districts, hydropower has become an efficient solution to the country’s ongoing energy crisis. Additionally, hydropower is a clean source of energy and does not produce any pollutants. Some of India’s top hydropower facilities include the Srisailam, Tehri, and Sardar Sarovar dams.

Answer: While dams have many positive effects on civilization, they also are the major threats to river ecosystem, fish habitat, wildlife and ultimately people.

1. Fish are restricted in their capacity to migrate, find spawning habitat, find food, and avoid predators because of dams.

While stagnant reservoir pools can greatly lengthen the migration of fish and disorient aquatic organisms, who need continuous flows to guide them.

2. Water bodies are physically impeded by dams and reservoirs because they fragment them and have an impact on their seasonal flow.

3. One persistent problem that the authorities frequently ignore is the land flooding and widespread population relocation caused by the construction of big dams.

Answer: A substantial man-made dam is an embankment dam. It is often made by placing and compacting a complicated semi-plastic mound made of different soil, clay, sand or rock compositions. It features a solid, impermeable core and a natural waterproof covering that is semi-permeable.

Get started with your UPSC preparation today

Over 8L learners preparing with Unacademy

  • Fully organized study planner
  • Exceptional educators to learn from
  • Ask Mock tests, live quizzes & practice
View subscription plans

Notifications

Get all the important information related to the UPSC Civil Services Exam including the process of application, important calendar dates, eligibility criteria, exam centers etc.

Previous Year Question Papers for Optional Subjects
UPSC 2022 Prelims Results
UPSC Calendar
UPSC CSE GS Main Test Series 23
UPSC Cut Off Analysis
UPSC Dedicated Doubt Solving Sessions
UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2024
UPSC Exam Pattern – Check Prelims and Mains Exam Pattern
UPSC Free Doubt Solving Sessions – Doubt Darbaar
UPSC Marking Scheme
UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2022
UPSC Prelims Previous Year Question Paper
UPSC Prelims Result 2024 Out – Download Prelims Result
UPSC Preparation Books – Best Books for IAS Prelims and Mains
UPSC Syllabus 2024 PDF – IAS Prelims and Mains Syllabus
UPSC Toppers
See all

Related articles

Learn more topics related to General Awareness
Zero Budget Natural Farming

A brief note on Zero Budget Natural Farming, The father of Zero Budget natural farming, pillars of Zero Budget natural farming, The difference between zero budget farming and organic farming and many things.

Yield Curve

In this article, we will try to understand the concept of a yield curve and its type. This quick article will be a quick complete guide about the yield curve.

Yes Bank Crisis and Reconstruction

Yes Bank is a bank that offers banking and financial services. There are approximately 1050 branches throughout India. Rana Kapoor and the late Ashok Kapoor founded Yes Bank Ltd. on November 21, 2003.

World’s Safest Countries

The Global Peace Index ranks the countries that are the safest globally, and Iceland ranks as the number one safest nation according to this report.

See all

Start you preparation with Unacademy

Access more than 469+ courses for UPSC - optional
Get subscription

Related links

  • UPSC Syllabus
  • UPSC PDF Notes
  • UPSC Printed Notes
  • UPSC Exam Pattern
  • UPSC Eligibility Criteria
  • UPSC Cut Off Analysis
  • UPSC Mains Exam
  • UPSC Prelims Exam
  • UPSC Marking Scheme
  • UPSC Toppers
  • UPSC Notes
  • UPSC Question Paper

UPSC Preparation

  • UPSC Preparation Books
  • Tips for UPSC Preparation
  • How to Prepare for UPSC without Coaching
  • UPSC Prelims Previous Year Question Paper
  • UPSC Question Paper 2022
  • UPSC Question Paper 2020
  • UPSC Question Paper 2019
  • UPSC Toppers Notes
testseries_upsc

Latest UPSC Notifications

  • UPSC Mains Paper Analysis
  • UPSC Mains Result 2022
  • UPSC 2023
  • UPSC Study Material
Latest Current Affairs
.
Company Logo

Unacademy is India’s largest online learning platform. Download our apps to start learning


Starting your preparation?

Call us and we will answer all your questions about learning on Unacademy

Call +91 8585858585

Company
About usShikshodayaCareers
we're hiring
BlogsPrivacy PolicyTerms and Conditions
Help & support
User GuidelinesSite MapRefund PolicyTakedown PolicyGrievance Redressal
Products
Learner appLearner appEducator appEducator appParent appParent app
Popular goals
IIT JEEUPSCSSCCSIR UGC NETNEET UG
Trending exams
GATECATCANTA UGC NETBank Exams
Study material
UPSC Study MaterialNEET UG Study MaterialCA Foundation Study MaterialJEE Study MaterialSSC Study Material

© 2025 Sorting Hat Technologies Pvt Ltd

Unacademy
  • Goals
    • AFCAT
    • AP EAMCET
    • Bank Exam
    • BPSC
    • CA Foundation
    • CAPF
    • CAT
    • CBSE Class 11
    • CBSE Class 12
    • CDS
    • CLAT
    • CSIR UGC
    • GATE
    • IIT JAM
    • JEE
    • Karnataka CET
    • Karnataka PSC
    • Kerala PSC
    • MHT CET
    • MPPSC
    • NDA
    • NEET PG
    • NEET UG
    • NTA UGC
    • Railway Exam
    • SSC
    • TS EAMCET
    • UPSC
    • WBPSC
    • CFA

Share via

COPY