In Indian industrial geography, Heavy Water Project at Talcher and the Fertilizer Plant at Paradeep are famous industrial units of which Indian state?

Introduction / Context:
Industrial geography questions often test knowledge of where important public sector and large industrial projects are located in India. The Heavy Water Project at Talcher and the Fertilizer Plant at Paradeep are two significant units connected with energy and fertilizer production. This question asks you to identify the state in which both of these industries are found, which is useful information for exams covering Indian economy and geography.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Heavy Water Project is located at Talcher.
• A major Fertilizer Plant is located at Paradeep.
• The options for the state are Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Orissa.
• The spelling Orissa reflects the older name; the current official name is Odisha, but exam questions often still use Orissa.

Concept / Approach:
The core concept is to know the industrial map of India, especially the east coast region around the Bay of Bengal. Talcher and Paradeep are both located in the state now known as Odisha. Talcher is known for coal fields and associated projects, including a Heavy Water Project, and Paradeep is a major port town where a large fertilizer plant and associated industries have been set up. Therefore, the state that is associated with both of these locations is Orissa (Odisha).

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Talcher is a town in the Angul district of the state of Orissa on the east coast of India.Step 2: Remember that Paradeep (also written as Paradip) is a major port and industrial location in Orissa with a large fertilizer plant.Step 3: Note that Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala are southern coastal states but do not contain both Talcher and Paradeep.Step 4: Match the pair of locations Talcher and Paradeep with their correct state, which is Orissa.Step 5: Select Orissa as the correct option.

Verification / Alternative check:
An alternative check is to visualise the map of India. Paradeep is shown as a port on the Odisha coast, north of Visakhapatnam and south of Kolkata, and Talcher is an inland industrial town within the same state. Standard reference books listing major industries by state also group Heavy Water Project, Talcher and Paradeep Fertilizer Plant under Orissa or Odisha, which supports the chosen answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Andhra Pradesh: While Andhra Pradesh has important ports such as Visakhapatnam and Kakinada, the specific combination of Talcher and Paradeep industries does not belong to this state.
Tamil Nadu: Tamil Nadu has its own industrial centres like Chennai, Coimbatore, and Tuticorin, but Talcher and Paradeep are not part of Tamil Nadu.

Cauvery: Kerala has ports like Kochi and industries of its own, yet neither Talcher nor Paradeep is located there, so Kerala cannot be correct.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may quickly associate Paradeep with a coastal southern state and guess Andhra Pradesh or Tamil Nadu without carefully recalling that Paradeep is actually in Orissa on the east coast. Another common mistake is to be confused by the older spelling Orissa versus the newer spelling Odisha. In competitive exams, both spellings refer to the same state, and you should focus on the locations rather than the spelling difference.

Final Answer:
Heavy Water Project at Talcher and the Fertilizer Plant at Paradeep are famous industries of Orissa (Odisha).