Which was the first major river valley project started in independent India?

Introduction / Context:
Large river valley projects were among the earliest development initiatives taken up in India after independence. These multipurpose projects aimed to control floods, produce hydroelectric power, and provide assured irrigation. Knowing which project was launched first reflects an understanding of the early planning priorities of the Indian government and is a frequent question in competitive examinations concerned with Indian geography and economic development.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks for the first major river valley project started in India after independence.
• The options are Bhakra Nangal Project, Damodar Valley Project, Kosi Project, and Hirakud Project.
• We assume the term river valley project refers to a multipurpose scheme that includes dams, power generation, and irrigation.
• The time frame is the early years after 1947, when India began planned development.

Concept / Approach:
The key concept is historical chronology of Indian multipurpose projects. The Damodar Valley Project, modelled somewhat on the Tennessee Valley Authority in the United States, was among the first major initiatives to control floods and generate power in eastern India. Bhakra Nangal, Hirakud, and Kosi are also important, but they followed Damodar Valley in time. Therefore the approach is to recall or reconstruct the correct order by approximate starting dates and then identify which scheme is clearly the earliest in that sequence.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Damodar Valley Project was initiated in the late 1940s as one of the first planned multipurpose river valley schemes in India.Step 2: Remember that Bhakra Nangal on the Sutlej was planned early but its construction and commissioning occurred mainly in the 1950s and 1960s.Step 3: Note that the Hirakud Project on the Mahanadi and the Kosi Project on the Kosi River were also launched after the Damodar scheme.Step 4: Compare the approximate starting periods and recognise that Damodar Valley clearly predates the others as a complete river valley authority.Step 5: Conclude that Damodar Valley Project is the first river valley project started in independent India.

Verification / Alternative check:
An additional way to check is to connect these projects with the Five Year Plans. Damodar Valley was closely associated with the very early planning period and was sometimes described as India's first experiment with a comprehensive river basin authority. Bhakra Nangal and Hirakud became emblematic of later phases of industrial and agricultural modernisation. Most standard school and exam preparation books clearly state that Damodar Valley Project holds the distinction of being the first major multipurpose river valley project of independent India, which confirms the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Bhakra Nangal Project: This is a very important project on the Sutlej River, but its development followed Damodar Valley and therefore it cannot be called the first river valley project started in India.
Kosi Project: The Kosi scheme is significant for flood control and irrigation in Bihar and Nepal, yet it was taken up later than the Damodar initiative.
Hirakud Project: Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi in Odisha is one of the longest earthen dams in the world, but it too belongs to a slightly later period and is not the first such project.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners assume that the most famous or visually impressive dam, such as Bhakra Nangal or Hirakud, must have been the earliest project. Others confuse the dates of planning and final commissioning. The safe strategy is to remember specifically that Damodar Valley was planned as India's first comprehensive river valley authority and that later projects followed its model. Linking Damodar Valley to early post independence flood management in eastern India also helps fix it in memory.

Final Answer:
The first major river valley project started in independent India was the Damodar Valley Project.