International Conference on Dam Safety 2026 | 17 Feb 2026

Source: PIB

Why in News?  

The International Conference on Dam Safety (ICDS) 2026 concluded successfully in Bengaluru, serving as a pivotal platform for strengthening India’s dam safety ecosystem.

What are the Key Highlights of ICDS 2026? 

  • Dam Safety Framework: The conference emphasized the implementation of the Dam Safety Act, 2021 and the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) to ensure the safety and longevity of India's dams. 
  • Sediment Management: Reservoir sedimentation was identified as a major threat to water security, highlighting the need for preventive measures such as catchment treatment and remote sensing. 
    • Experts recommended simplified risk screening and dam-break assessment tools to prioritize safety measures across India's large dam portfolio. 
  • Flood Management: The importance of forecast-informed and basin-level coordinated reservoir operations was underscored, utilizing dynamic rule curves and real-time data sharing to manage floods and droughts. 
  • Emergency Preparedness: The conference called for strengthening Emergency Action Plans (EAPs), floodplain zoning, and early warning systems to enhance community preparedness and institutional response.

International Conference on Dam Safety (ICDS) 2026 

  • The ICDS 2026 is the second in the series organized under DRIP Phase II & III, the first was held in Jaipur in 2023. 
  • It was jointly organized by the Government of Karnataka, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Central Water Commission (CWC), IISc Bangalore, and the World Bank. 

What is the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP)? 

  • DRIP: It is a flagship initiative by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, designed to enhance the structural safety and operational efficiency of dams in India. 
  • Need: India ranks third globally (after China and the USA) in the number of large dams, with a portfolio of 6628 dams (National Register of Specified Dams, 2025). 
    • Ensuring the safety and operational efficiency of this aging infrastructure is critical for water security making DRIP necessary.  
  • Objectives 
    • Safety Improvement: To improve the safety and operational performance of selected existing dams and associated appurtenances in a sustainable manner. 
    • Institutional Strengthening: To strengthen the dam safety institutional setup in participating States as well as at the Central level. 
    • Revenue Generation: To explore incidental revenue generation for sustainable operation and maintenance of dams. 
  • Funding Pattern: The funding pattern of the scheme is 80:20(Special Category States), 70:30(General Category States) and 50:50(Central Agencies).  
    • The Scheme also has provision of Central Grant of 90% of loan amount for special category States (Manipur, Meghalaya and Uttarakhand). 
  • Phases:  
    • Phase I (2012–2021): Successfully completed the rehabilitation of 223 dams across 7 states, establishing basic safety protocols and guidelines. 
    • Phase II & III (2021–2031): Currently ongoing, these phases target 736 dams across 19 states, emphasizing climate resilience, advanced monitoring, and sustainable revenue generation. 

Dam Safety Act, 2021 

  • The Act establishes a comprehensive framework for surveillance, inspection, operation, and maintenance of large dams to ensure safety and prevent dam failure disasters. 
  • Dam Safety Act 2021 provides for four tiers of institutional mechanism: establishment of National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS) and National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) at Centre level and establishment of State Committee on Dam Safety and the State Dam Safety Organization at State level. 
  • Under the Act, dam owners are responsible for the safe construction, operation, and maintenance of dams. They must set up dam safety units for regular inspections, especially during monsoons and disasters, and prepare Emergency Action Plans, risk assessments, and expert safety evaluations to prevent failures. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

1. What is the objective of the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP)?
DRIP aims to enhance the structural safety, operational efficiency, and institutional capacity of dam management in India with World Bank and AIIB support. 

2. Why is reservoir sedimentation a concern for India?
Sedimentation reduces storage capacity, weakens dam efficiency, and threatens long-term water security and flood control. 

3. What institutional framework is created under the Dam Safety Act, 2021?
It establishes the National Dam Safety Authority and National Committee at the Centre, along with State Dam Safety Organizations and Committees. 

4. How does ICDS 2026 contribute to dam safety in India?
It promotes best practices in sediment management, flood forecasting, risk assessment, and emergency preparedness to strengthen dam safety. 

5. Why is DRIP important for India’s water security?
With over 6,600 large dams, DRIP ensures safe operation and climate resilience of aging infrastructure critical for irrigation, power, and drinking water.  

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs) 

Prelims

Q. Consider the following pairs: (2022)

 Reservoirs       :     States 

 Ghataprabha   :     Telangana 

 Gandhi Sagar  :     Madhya Pradesh 

 Indira Sagar    :     Andhra Pradesh 

 Maithon           :     Chhattisgarh 

How many pairs given above are not correctly matched?

A.  Only one pair 

B. Only two pairs PAY 

C. Only three pairs 

D. All four pairs 

Ans: C 

Q. On which one of the following rivers is the Tehri Hydropower Complex located? (2008)

(a) Alaknanda 
(b) Bhagirathi 
(c) Dhauliganga 
(d) Mandakini 

Ans: (b)

Mains

Q. Suppose the Government of India is thinking of constructing a dam in a mountain valley bound by forests and inhabited by ethnic communities. What rational policy should it resort to in dealing with unforeseen contingencies? (2018)