NUCLEAR ENERGY MISSION

07 Aug 2025 GS 3 Economy

NUCLEAR ENERGY MISSION

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Vision: 100 GW Nuclear Power Capacity by 2047 for Viksit Bharat and Net Zero by 2070

Mission Objectives

Augment nuclear power capacity to 100 GW by 2047.
Support base load power requirement with low-carbon energy.
Accelerate India’s path toward Net Zero emissions by 2070.
Reduce dependence on fossil fuels for power, industry, and transport.

Scope and Deployment Strategy

Mix of large and small nuclear power plants:
- In greenfield (new) and brownfield (existing) sites.
- Captive plants for industries.
- Off-grid installations in remote locations.
Support for:
- Repurposing retiring thermal power plants.
- Decarbonising industrial and transport sectors.
Active private sector participation.
Emphasis on R&D for advanced technologies and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

Indigenous Development of SMRs by BARC

Type	Output	Application
BSMR (Bharat Small Modular Reactor)	200 MWe	Base load, captive
Small Modular Reactor	55 MWe	Decentralized grids
High Temp Gas-Cooled Reactor	5 MWth	Hydrogen production via thermochemical process

In-principle approval obtained.

Construction timeframe: 60–72 months post-administrative sanction.
Lead units to be installed at DAE sites with NPCIL collaboration.

Current Nuclear Power Status (as of Aug 2025)

Category	Capacity
Installed capacity	24 reactors → 8,780 MW
Under construction	18 reactors → 13,600 MW (includes PFBR 500 MW)
Targeted mid-term capacity	22,380 MW

Excludes RAPS-1 (100 MW) – under long-term shutdown.

Resource Base: Uranium in India

Total U₃O₈ (Uranium oxide) resource: 4,33,800 tonnes (in-situ).
Located in 47 deposits across:
- AP, Telangana, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, UP, Uttarakhand, HP, Maharashtra
New find (2025):
- 26,437 tonnes in Jaduguda North-Baglasai Mechua, Jharkhand (NW extension of Jaduguda deposit).

Safety Architecture

Regulatory oversight:
- Independent monitoring by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB).
- Continuous reviews and strict procedural compliance.

Applications Beyond Power

Hydrogen Production:
- High-temperature gas-cooled reactors for green hydrogen.
Transport & Industry:
- Nuclear-generated hydrogen and captive power for decarbonizing sectors.

Significance of the Mission

Strategic:
- Enhances energy security and reduces import dependence.
Economic:
- Enables clean base-load power for industrial growth.
Environmental:
- Aids in carbon neutrality, especially where solar/wind are insufficient for base load.

Challenges to Address

High capital costs and long gestation.
Public perception and safety concerns.
Waste disposal and uranium supply security.
Need for skilled human resources and technological breakthroughs (e.g., thorium reactors in future).

Way Forward

Fast-track construction of approved projects.
Strengthen international cooperation (e.g., with France, Russia, US).
Accelerate indigenous SMR development and deployment.
Integrate nuclear energy into Just Energy Transition plans.

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