UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Dam Rehabilitation: Strengthening Infrastructure through Policy and Technology

Q1. Water and water supplies are subjects under the State List. Under which one of the following entries did the Parliament derive its legislative competence to enact the Dam Safety Act, 2021?

• A. Entry 17 of the State List
• B. Entry 56 of the Union List
• C. Entry 97 of the Union List
• D. Entry 20 of the Concurrent List

Q2. With reference to the institutional architecture established under the Dam Safety Act, 2021, consider the following bodies. Which of the above is/are correctly identified as constituents of the four-tier institutional mechanism for dam safety in India?

1. National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS)
2. National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA)
3. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
4. State Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO)

• A. 1, 2 and 3 only
• B. 1, 2 and 4 only
• C. 2 and 4 only
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. With reference to the comparative roles of the National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS) and the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) established under the Dam Safety Act, 2021, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The NCDS is chaired by the Chairman, Central Water Commission, whereas the NDSA is headed by an officer not below the rank of Additional Secretary to the Government of India.
2. Unlike the NCDS, which functions as a policy think-tank, the NDSA resolves issues between State Dam Safety Organisations and between an SDSO and a dam owner.
3. While the NCDS notifies dam safety regulations through the Official Gazette, the NDSA only recommends draft policies for the consideration of the NCDS.

• A. 1 only
• B. 1 and 2 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. With reference to the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP), consider the following statements comparing Phase I with Phase II & III: 1. While Phase I covered 223 dams in 7 States, Phase II and III together envisage rehabilitation of 736 dams across 19 States. 2. Phase I was co-financed by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, whereas Phase II and III are financed solely by the World Bank. 3. Phase II and III follow a uniform 70:30 external-to-counterpart funding pattern for all participating States and Central Agencies. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. While Phase I covered 223 dams in 7 States, Phase II and III together envisage rehabilitation of 736 dams across 19 States.
2. Phase I was co-financed by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, whereas Phase II and III are financed solely by the World Bank.
3. Phase II and III follow a uniform 70:30 external-to-counterpart funding pattern for all participating States and Central Agencies.

• A. 1 only
• B. 1 and 2 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. In the context of the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) Phase II & III, the funding pattern of '80:20' refers to:

• A. the ratio in which the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank share the external assistance under the scheme
• B. the ratio of external loan to counterpart funding applicable to Special Category States participating in the scheme
• C. the ratio of the outlay of Phase II to that of Phase III within the overall approved cost of Rs 10,211 crore
• D. the ratio of Union Government to State Government share applicable to General Category States under the scheme

Q6. With reference to India's large dam profile and the Dam Safety Act, 2021, consider the following statements: 1. India ranks third in the world in the number of large dams, after China and the United States. 2. Under the Dam Safety Act, 2021, a dam more than 15 metres in height is treated as a 'specified dam'. 3. More than 50 per cent of India's specified dams are over 50 years old. 4. Maharashtra has the highest number of specified dams in the country. Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. India ranks third in the world in the number of large dams, after China and the United States.
2. Under the Dam Safety Act, 2021, a dam more than 15 metres in height is treated as a 'specified dam'.
3. More than 50 per cent of India's specified dams are over 50 years old.
4. Maharashtra has the highest number of specified dams in the country.

• A. 1 and 3 only
• B. 2 and 4 only
• C. 1, 2 and 4 only
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. With reference to India's specified dams under the Dam Safety Act, 2021, consider the following statements: 1. India has more than 6,000 specified dams as per the latest official data. 2. All specified dams in India are exclusively owned by the Central Government. 3. About 26 per cent of India's specified dams are more than 50 years old. 4. The aggregate gross water storage capacity of India's specified dams is approximately 330 billion cubic metres. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

1. India has more than 6,000 specified dams as per the latest official data.
2. All specified dams in India are exclusively owned by the Central Government.
3. About 26 per cent of India's specified dams are more than 50 years old.
4. The aggregate gross water storage capacity of India's specified dams is approximately 330 billion cubic metres.

• A. 1 and 3 only
• B. 2 only
• C. 2 and 4 only
• D. 3 and 4 only

Q8. Which one of the following is the principal web-based asset management application of the Central Water Commission, on which all 6,628 specified dams of India have been registered for capturing dam asset and health data?

• A. Rashtriya Bandh Suraksha Darpan (RBSD)
• B. Rapid Risk Screening of Specified Dams (RRSSD)
• C. Dam Health and Rehabilitation Monitoring Application (DHARMA)
• D. Seismic Hazard Assessment Information System (SHAISYS)

Q9. With reference to the institutional architecture for dam safety in India, the Central Water Commission (CWC) functions as an attached office of which one of the following?

• A. Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti
• B. Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti
• C. Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development
• D. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Q10. The National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS), the apex policy body constituted under the Dam Safety Act, 2021, is chaired ex officio by which one of the following?

• A. Union Minister of Jal Shakti
• B. Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation
• C. Chairman, Central Water Commission
• D. Chairperson, National Dam Safety Authority

Q11. With reference to the 11th Meeting of the National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS) held in January 2026, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The meeting was convened at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.
2. The Committee decided to constitute a national expert committee to finalise the Semi-Quantitative Risk Assessment (SQRA) framework.
3. The Committee resolved to reduce the number of seismic instruments prescribed in the existing NDSA regulations.
4. DAMCHAT, an AI-powered dam safety knowledge platform, was formally launched during this NCDS meeting.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 3 only
• C. 1, 3 and 4
• D. 2 and 4 only

Q12. In the context of India's evolving dam safety framework deliberated at the 11th NCDS meeting (2026), the term 'SQRA' refers to which one of the following?

• A. A Level 2 Semi-Quantitative Risk Assessment for dams, sitting between potential failure mode analysis and full quantitative risk analysis
• B. A Standardised Quality and Rehabilitation Audit conducted on every DRIP-funded dam by the Central Water Commission
• C. A Statutory Quarterly Reservoir Assessment that every specified dam owner must submit to the State Dam Safety Organisation
• D. A Seismic Quantification and Reservoir Analysis module embedded within the DHARMA digital platform

Q13. Which one of the following is the tallest dam in India?

• A. Bhakra Dam
• B. Hirakud Dam
• C. Sardar Sarovar Dam
• D. Tehri Dam