A process for the preparation of finely divided precipitated silica, said process comprising the steps of: (i) preparing a dilute solution of sodium silicate having silica concentration in the range of 40 to 70 g SiO 2 per liter, (ii) adjusting the sodium ion concentration of silicate solution of step (i) by adding sodium salt in the range of 0.1 to 1.0 moles per liter; (iii) preparing a dilute mineral acid solution in the concentration range of 1 to 10 N; (iv) preparing separately a stable silica sol at an ambient temperature by adding sodium silicate solution in the range of 5 to 30 percent (w/v) of step (ii) to mineral acid prepared in step (iii) under continuous agitation; (v) heating the dilute sodium silicate solution prepared in step (ii) at a temperature in the range of 50 to 90°C; (vi) neutralizing 10 to 30 percent of the alkali of the total alkali present in the above said sodium silicate solution of step (v) with dilute acid solution prepared in step (iii) over a time period of 5 to 20 minutes, under stirring, at a temperature in the range of 50 to 90°C; (vii) interrupting the neutralization of sodium silicate for a time in the range of 5 to 30 minutes while maintaining the elevated temperature; (viii) neutralizing the sodium silicate solution obtained in step (vii) with stable silica sol prepared in step (iv) over a time period of 10 to 30 minutes, under stirring; (ix) interrupting again the above said neutralization process for a time period of 3 to 10 minutes; (x) adding the remaining mineral acid to the above said reaction mass of step (viii) over a time period of 5 to 30 minutes so that the final pH of the reaction mixture is in between 3 to 5; (xi) aging the above said reaction mixture for a time period of 2 to 10 minutes; (xii) circulating continuously the above said reaction mass through a centrifugal pump at rate of 15 to 20 cycle per hour during the reaction steps (vi) to (xi); (xiii) separating the solid silica from the reaction mass by filtration, washing the filter cake with water to remove adhering sulfate impurities; (xiv) drying the cake at a temperature in the range of 90 to 110°C; and (xv) pulverizing the silica to obtain fine powder and jet milling the powder to obtain finely divided silica powder. (i) preparing a dilute solution of sodium silicate having silica concentration in the range of 40 to 70 g SiO 2 per liter, (ii) adjusting the sodium ion concentration of silicate solution of step (i) by adding sodium salt in the range of 0.1 to 1.0 moles per liter; (iii) preparing a dilute mineral acid solution in the concentration range of 1 to 10 N; (iv) preparing separately a stable silica sol at an ambient temperature by adding sodium silicate solution in the range of 5 to 30 percent (w/v) of step (ii) to mineral acid prepared in step (iii) under continuous agitation; (v) heating the dilute sodium silicate solution prepared in step (ii) at a temperature in the range of 50 to 90°C; (vi) neutralizing 10 to 30 percent of the alkali of the total alkali present in the above said sodium silicate solution of step (v) with dilute acid solution prepared in step (iii) over a time period of 5 to 20 minutes, under stirring, at a temperature in the range of 50 to 90°C; (vii) interrupting the neutralization of sodium silicate for a time in the range of 5 to 30 minutes while maintaining the elevated temperature; (viii) neutralizing the sodium silicate solution obtained in step (vii) with stable silica sol prepared in step (iv) over a time period of 10 to 30 minutes, under stirring; (ix) interrupting again the above said neutralization process for a time period of 3 to 10 minutes; (x) adding the remaining mineral acid to the above said reaction mass of step (viii) over a time period of 5 to 30 minutes so that the final pH of the reaction mixture is in between 3 to 5; (xi) aging the above said reaction mixture for a time period of 2 to 10 minutes; (xii) circulating continuously the above said reaction mass through a centrifugal pump at rate of 15 to 20 cycle per hour during the reaction steps (vi) to (xi); (xiii) separating the solid silica from the reaction mass by filtration, washing the filter cake with water to remove adhering sulfate impurities; (xiv) drying the cake at a temperature in the range of 90 to 110°C; and (xv) pulverizing the silica to obtain fine powder and jet milling the powder to obtain finely divided silica powder.