In Indian power sector development, Patratu Thermal Power Plant is proposed to be set up in which one of the following states?

Introduction / Context:
This question is related to India's energy infrastructure, particularly thermal power generation. Patratu Thermal Power Plant is an important project that frequently appears in current affairs and static GK, especially in questions about state wise location of major power plants. Knowing where such plants are planned or operational helps candidates understand regional development and industrial geography.

Given Data / Assumptions:
We are told that Patratu Thermal Power Plant is proposed to be set up and are asked to identify the correct state. The options are:

• Madhya Pradesh
• Bihar
• Jharkhand
• West Bengal

It is assumed that only one of these correctly matches the location of Patratu, and that the learner has at least basic familiarity with the project from news or GK sources.

Concept / Approach:
Patratu is a town located in Ramgarh district in the state of Jharkhand. A large thermal power project has been planned there, involving both the state and central or joint venture partners. The basic approach is therefore to connect the place name Patratu with the state Jharkhand. The other states listed in the options are important for power generation but are not the host for this specific plant. Madhya Pradesh has plants like Singrauli and Satpura, Bihar has Barauni and Kanti, and West Bengal has Durgapur and others.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify Patratu as a town known from news reports on thermal power projects. Step 2: Recall that Patratu is situated in Ramgarh district of Jharkhand, a mineral rich state in eastern India. Step 3: Confirm mentally that Jharkhand is widely mentioned in connection with the Patratu power project. Step 4: Compare this knowledge with the four options given in the question. Step 5: Select Jharkhand as the correct state for the proposed Patratu Thermal Power Plant.

Verification / Alternative check:
An alternative way to verify is by recalling that Jharkhand has significant coal reserves and consequently hosts several coal based power plants and proposed projects. Patratu has been in the news as a large capacity expansion site for thermal power, often mentioned alongside other Jharkhand based industrial projects. By contrast, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal have their own well known power stations, but Patratu is not associated with them in standard reference lists or exam oriented summaries.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Madhya Pradesh: Important for power generation but does not host Patratu; its key plants are in different locations such as Singrauli and Satpura.

Bihar: Has thermal projects like Barauni and Kanti, but the Patratu project is not in this state.

West Bengal: Associated with other power stations and industrial hubs, not with Patratu.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to guess Madhya Pradesh or West Bengal simply because they are known industrial states, or to confuse Patratu with similar sounding places in other regions. Another pitfall is to overlook eastern India's coal belt, which makes Jharkhand a natural choice for large thermal projects. To avoid such confusion, candidates should maintain a small list of major power plants with their states, for example Patratu – Jharkhand, Korba – Chhattisgarh, and Singrauli – Madhya Pradesh.

Final Answer:
Patratu Thermal Power Plant is proposed to be set up in the state of Jharkhand.