The Gandhi Sagar Dam, a major dam in Madhya Pradesh, is constructed on which of the following rivers?

Introduction / Context:
Dams and the rivers on which they are built are a favourite topic in Indian geography, irrigation, and environment questions. Gandhi Sagar Dam is one of the important dams located in Madhya Pradesh and forms part of a series of dams on a particular river basin. Knowing the correct river helps you understand regional development, hydropower projects, and irrigation schemes.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The dam in question is Gandhi Sagar Dam.
• It is located in Madhya Pradesh.
• The options list rivers: Tapti, Chambal, Narmada, and a generic “None.”
• We assume standard hydrological and geographical information as in textbooks.

Concept / Approach:
Gandhi Sagar Dam is a masonry gravity dam built on the Chambal River, which is a tributary of the Yamuna. It is part of the Chambal Valley project, which also includes other dams like Rana Pratap Sagar and Jawahar Sagar downstream. By recalling the association between Gandhi Sagar and the Chambal River, and distinguishing it from dams on the Narmada or Tapti, we can identify the correct option.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Chambal River flows through Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and is known for its deep ravines and Chambal Valley projects. Step 2: Gandhi Sagar Dam is one of the earliest large dams on the Chambal River, situated in the Mandsaur or Neemuch region of Madhya Pradesh. Step 3: Tapti and Narmada are separate west flowing rivers with their own dams, such as Ukai on Tapti and Sardar Sarovar on Narmada. Step 4: Since Gandhi Sagar Dam is specifically a part of the Chambal Valley multipurpose project, the river involved is Chambal. Step 5: Therefore, the correct answer is Chambal.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard exam guides and school geography textbooks list Gandhi Sagar, Rana Pratap Sagar, and Jawahar Sagar as dams built on the Chambal River as part of the Chambal project. Hydropower and irrigation project lists produced by the Central Water Commission also show Gandhi Sagar under the Chambal basin. No authentic source associates Gandhi Sagar Dam with the Tapti or Narmada rivers, which confirms that Chambal is the correct river.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Tapti: A west flowing river passing through Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, but Gandhi Sagar Dam is not constructed on it. Narmada: Another major west flowing river known for dams like Sardar Sarovar and Bargi, yet Gandhi Sagar is not one of its dams. None: Incorrect, because one of the named rivers, Chambal, is indeed the correct river on which Gandhi Sagar Dam is built.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes mix up dams on the Chambal and Narmada rivers because both basins have multiple large projects in central India. Another mistake is to choose “None” when uncertain, but such options should be chosen only when you are sure that all other choices are wrong. To avoid confusion, remember the set “Chambal River – Gandhi Sagar, Rana Pratap Sagar, Jawahar Sagar; Narmada River – Sardar Sarovar, Bargi, Indira Sagar, Omkareshwar; Tapti River – Ukai, Hatnur.” These associations will help you score well in dam related MCQs.

Final Answer:
The Gandhi Sagar Dam in Madhya Pradesh is constructed on the Chambal River.