With reference to coal-based thermal power plants in India, consider the following statements : 1. None of them uses seawater. 2. None of them is set up in water-stressed district. 3. None of them is privately owned. How many of the above statements are correct?
- (a) Only one
- (b) Only two
- (c) All three
- (d) None ✓ UPSC's answer
Why the answer is (d)
• Statement 1 is wrong: coastal plants such as Tata Power's Mundra UMPP, Adani's Mundra plant and NTPC Simhadri use seawater for cooling.
• Statement 2 is wrong: many plants stand in water-stressed districts of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Chhattisgarh; the Environment Ministry's 2015 norms on water consumption were framed precisely because of this.
• Statement 3 is wrong: private companies — Adani Power, Tata Power, JSW Energy, Reliance — own a large share of India's coal-based capacity.
• Each statement's absolute 'none' is refuted by well-known examples.
• Hence none, option (d).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) Only one
- None of the statements is correct.
- (b) Only two
- All three 'none' claims are false.
- (c) All three
- Each statement is contradicted by real plants.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2023, held on 28 May 2023. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.