§1What this business is
China clay, alumina, quartz, feldspar and combustible materials are mixed in a ball mill and blunger, cast in plaster-of-Paris moulds, dried in an oven and fired in a kiln. One type gives bacteria-free water, the other removes suspended dirt. Domestic candles filter 2–3 litres an hour and community candles 6–7 litres an hour. The profile points to MSME-DI Kolkata and the Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (Kolkata) for technical know-how.
Capacity: 1,00,000 candles a year.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
Someone with ceramic training who can sell through hardware shops and filter makers.
Who it is not for
Someone hoping to enter the RO purifier market.
Advantages
- Low-cost filters are still used widely
- Candles need replacing, so buyers come back
- Small investment
- Technical help is available from CGCRI
Drawbacks
- RO and UV purifiers have taken much of the city market
- Buyers want proof that the filter works
- Kiln fuel cost
- Low price per piece
Skills you need
- Ceramic body and firing
- Testing pore size and flow
- Selling to filter assemblers
- Keeping quality records
Why difficulty 3/5: The process is simple, but the filter must work reliably every time.
§3Market
Who buys
- Makers of pot and steel water filters
- Households replacing candles
- Community water points (larger candles)
How it sells
- Hardware and utensil shops
- Supply to filter assemblers
Good to know
- The profile sells candles at ₹21.00 lakh a year for 1,00,000 pieces at full capacity.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Ball mill with accessories and motor | — | — |
| Blunger, 1,000 litres, with motor | — | — |
| Agitator cement tank, 1,000 litres, with motor | — | — |
| Grinding machine with motor | — | — |
| Electric drying oven 6 × 6 × 3 | — | — |
| Oil-fired rectangular / down-draught kiln, 1 tonne | — | — |
| Plaster-of-Paris moulds | — | — |
| Office furniture, installation and electrification | — | — |
| Equipment total | — | ₹5,70,000 |
From: KVIC Project Profile — Ceramic Candles (for Water Filter) (PMEGP)
- China clay, alumina, quartz and feldsparraw material ₹9.36 lakh a year at full capacity
- Combustible materials
- Labels and packing material₹60,000 a year
From: KVIC Project Profile — Ceramic Candles (for Water Filter) (PMEGP)
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam
- GST
- Pollution Control Board consent (kiln)
- Trade licence
- BIS certification if a Quality Control Order covers your product — check
§6Schemes & subsidies
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- MudraCentralActiveLoan up to ₹20 lakh, no collateral
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
PMEGP and MUDRA fit the ₹8.60 L project; CGTMSE for a loan without collateral.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: Equipment ₹5,70,000 (ball mill with motor, 1,000-litre blunger, 1,000-litre agitator tank, grinding machine, electric drying oven 6 × 6 × 3, oil-fired 1-tonne kiln, plaster-of-Paris moulds, office furniture, installation and electrification) + working capital ₹2,90,000 = ₹8,60,000. Own land; work shed rented.
Working capital: Working capital ₹2.90 L.
Year not printed on the KVIC profile — check current machinery prices.
§8Export potential
Confirm the ITC-HS code for ceramic filter candles on the DGFT site.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Breakage
- Uneven filtering
- Falling demand in cities
- Fuel price rise
§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan
A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.
- Days 1–30: Visit a working ceramic water filter candles unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam, GST), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
- Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.
§11Who to connect with
Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Ceramic Water Filter Candles?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.