Authentic Classroom Explanation by IAS Monk

---

📍 The Question

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 a 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

Correct Answer: (d) None

---

🎯 Theme of the Question

Indian Geography | Energy Resources | Thermal Power | Water Stress

This question tests understanding of the location, ownership, and water-use characteristics of coal-based thermal power plants in India.

---

🧠 Classroom Explanation

Let us evaluate each statement carefully.

---

🔹 Statement 1: None of them uses seawater. ❌

• Several coastal coal-based thermal power plants in India use seawater for cooling
• Example:
  • Coastal Gujarat Power Limited (CGPL) at Mundra
  • Uses once-through seawater cooling system
• Warm seawater is discharged back into the sea, raising thermal pollution concerns

✘ Statement 1 is incorrect

---

🔹 Statement 2: None of them is set up in a water-stressed district. ❌

• Many coal-based thermal power plants are located in water-stressed river basins
• Major river basins hosting dense thermal plants:
  • Indus
  • Ganga
  • Mahanadi
  • Godavari
• Post-2010 expansion of coal plants has increasingly occurred in northern and eastern India, where water stress is already high

✘ Statement 2 is incorrect

---

🔹 Statement 3: None of them is privately owned. ❌

• India has both public and private coal-based thermal power plants
• Examples of private ownership:
  • Tata Power (CGPL)
  • Adani Power
• Private sector participation is significant in India’s power generation mix

✘ Statement 3 is incorrect

---

📊 Final Assessment

Statement	Status
Uses seawater	❌ Incorrect
Located outside water-stressed districts	❌ Incorrect
Only publicly owned	❌ Incorrect

👉 None of the statements are correct

---

❌ UPSC Elimination Logic

• UPSC deliberately uses absolute words like “none”
• In geography, absolutes are almost always false
• Mixed ownership, mixed locations, mixed water sources = reject all

---

🧩 Memory Hook

“When a question says none, look for even one counterexample.”

---

🧠 Prelims Strategy Insight

For infrastructure questions:

• Check location logic (coastal / river basins)
• Check ownership diversity
• Check resource dependency (water, fuel)

Absolute claims rarely survive scrutiny.

---

🧭 IAS Monk Whisper

In India’s geography, diversity defeats absolutes.