India has 6,628 specified dams, third in the world; DRIP Phase II & III outlay ₹10,211 crore
A PIB backgrounder of 15 May 2026 says India ranks third in the world with 6,628 specified dams, over 26% of them more than 50 years old, and that DRIP Phases II and III carry an outlay of ₹10,211 crore.
Summary
India ranks third in the world in large dams, with 6,628 specified dams, according to a PIB backgrounder on dam rehabilitation released on 15 May 2026. About 26% (1,681) of these dams are more than 50 years old, around 98.5% are owned by state governments, and Maharashtra has the highest number of specified dams. The Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) Phase I was launched in April 2012 with World Bank support, and DRIP Phases II and III, operational since October 2021 and co-financed by the World Bank and AIIB, have a total outlay of ₹10,211 crore. The Dam Safety Act, 2021 sets up a four-tier mechanism: the National Committee on Dam Safety (apex body), the National Dam Safety Authority (regulator), State Committees on Dam Safety and State Dam Safety Organisations.
Key facts
- Specified dams
- 6,628 – India 3rd in the world
- Ageing
- ~26% (1,681) over 50 years old
- Ownership
- ~98.5% state governments
- Most dams
- Maharashtra
- DRIP
- Phase I April 2012 (World Bank); Phases II & III from Oct 2021, ₹10,211 crore (World Bank, AIIB)
- Static link
- Dam Safety Act, 2021: NCDS (apex), NDSA (regulator), SCDS, SDSO
Practice MCQs 3 questions
According to a PIB backgrounder (May 2026), what is India's world rank in terms of large dams?
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Correct answer: C — 3rd
India ranks third in the world with 6,628 specified dams.
Which state has the highest number of specified dams in India, as per the PIB backgrounder of May 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Maharashtra
Maharashtra has the highest number of specified dams, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.
Consider the following statements: 1. Under the Dam Safety Act, 2021, the National Dam Safety Authority is the apex body of the four-tier mechanism. 2. Phase I of the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) was launched in April 2012 with World Bank support. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
Statement 1 is wrong: the National Committee on Dam Safety is the apex body; the NDSA is the regulatory and implementing arm. Statement 2 is correct.