Which one among the following industries is the maximum consumer of water in India?

Answer: (d) Thermal power

Thermal power plants use far more water than any other industry in India. Estimates put their share at about 88% of all industrial water demand, mostly for cooling and ash handling. Engineering, paper and pulp, and textiles each use only a small share.

• ✓ (d) Thermal power plants account for about 88% of India's industrial water demand. They need large volumes for cooling and ash handling, so no other industry comes close.
• ✗ (a) Engineering ranks second among industrial users, but at only about 5% of industrial water use. That is a small fraction of the thermal power share.
• ✗ (b) Paper and pulp is water-intensive per tonne produced, but it accounts for only about 2.3% of industrial water use in total.
• ✗ (c) Textiles use water for dyeing and washing, but their share is only about 2% of industrial water use.

Remember · Agriculture is India's biggest water user overall, and all industry together accounts for only about 9% of water consumption. Within industry, thermal power plants dominate with about 88% of industrial water demand.

Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2013, General Studies paper. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 25 Oct 2026 (how we verify). · Report an error