The 11th Meeting of the National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS) was held on 20 January 2026 at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre, Janpath, New Delhi, under the aegis of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India. The NCDS is constituted under Section 5 of the Dam Safety Act, 2021 and functions as a policy think tank for the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), recommending regulations and uniform dam-safety standards. The meeting reviewed the current status of India's dam safety architecture, which is one of the largest in the world — India operates more than 6,000 large dams, and the Dam Safety Act, 2021 applies to 'specified dams': dams above 15 metres in height, and dams between 10 and 15 metres meeting prescribed conditions of design, height, reservoir capacity or hazard potential. Major agenda items deliberated included CDSE standard operating procedures, the pre-initial filling plan, SQRA/QRA risk assessment, construction and rehabilitation approvals, non-structural documents, seismic instruments, and the safety of Chandraprabha dam. The 11th meeting is a significant milestone in operationalising India's legislative framework for dam safety, especially given the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in the Himalayan region, and ageing infrastructure in several large irrigation reservoirs built between the 1950s and 1970s.
11th Meeting of the National Committee on Dam Safety Held in New Delhi on 20 January 2026: Ministry of Jal Shakti Reviews Dam Safety Act, 2021 Implementation Nationally
On 20 January 2026, the 11th Meeting of the National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS) was held at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. The NCDS is constituted under Section 5 of the Dam Safety Act, 2021 and functions as a policy think tank for the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA). The meeting deliberated CDSE procedures, the pre-initial filling plan, SQRA/QRA risk assessment, construction and rehabilitation approvals, non-structural documents, seismic instruments and Chandraprabha dam safety.
Key facts
- The 11th Meeting of the National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS) was held on 20 January 2026 at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi, under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
- NCDS is the apex statutory body constituted under the Dam Safety Act, 2021 to drive national dam-safety policy and oversee Act implementation across States.
- India has more than 6,000 large dams; the Act covers 'specified dams' — height above 15 m, or above 10 m with reservoir capacity exceeding 1 million cubic metres.
- The meeting reviewed functioning of National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), State Dam Safety Organisations (SDSOs), Dam Safety Review Panels (DSRPs) and Emergency Action Plans (EAPs).
- The Committee discussed the Central Water Commission's (CWC) technical role and progress under the World Bank-funded Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Programme (DRIP) Phase II and III.
- Renewed focus placed on glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in the Himalayan region, extreme weather events, and ageing infrastructure in dams built between the 1950s and 1970s.
Mains angle
Q: Discuss the role of the National Committee on Dam Safety and the Dam Safety Act, 2021 in managing India's dam-safety architecture.
Answer (50 words):
The eleventh National Committee on Dam Safety meeting convened January 20, 2026 at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi under Jal Shakti Ministry. This apex statutory body under the Dam Safety Act, 2021 reviewed NDSA, SDSOs, DSRPs, emergency action plans and DRIP Phase II/III progress across India's 6,000 plus large dams.
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Under which Act was the National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS), whose 11th meeting was held in New Delhi on 20 January 2026, constituted?
The National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS) is the apex statutory body constituted under the Dam Safety Act, 2021. Its 11th meeting on 20 January 2026 in New Delhi reviewed the NDSA, SDSOs, DSRPs, Emergency Action Plans, and the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Programme (DRIP) Phase II/III. India has more than 6,000 large dams.
Source: Press Information Bureau
Frequently asked questions
When and where was the 11th Meeting of the National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS) held?
The 11th Meeting of the NCDS was held on 20 January 2026 at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre, Janpath, New Delhi, under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources.
Under which law was the NCDS constituted and what is its role?
The NCDS is the apex statutory body constituted under the Dam Safety Act, 2021. Its role is to provide national-level policy direction, advise on inter-state and inter-ministerial dam-safety concerns, and oversee consistent implementation of the Act across States.
Which dams are covered as 'specified dams' under the Dam Safety Act, 2021?
The Act covers 'specified dams' — any dam with height above 15 metres, or above 10 metres with reservoir capacity exceeding 1 million cubic metres. India has more than 6,000 large dams in total.
What institutional mechanisms did the NCDS meeting review?
The meeting reviewed the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), State Dam Safety Organisations (SDSOs), Dam Safety Review Panels (DSRPs), Emergency Action Plans (EAPs), the Central Water Commission's technical role, and progress under the World Bank-funded Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Programme (DRIP) Phase II/III.
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