SYLLABUS
GS-3: Infrastructure: Energy; Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Context: The Government aims to develop and operationalise at least five indigenous Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) by 2033 under the Nuclear Energy Mission.
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- Parliament has enacted the SHANTI Act, 2025, opening the nuclear energy sector to private participation, including research and development, while strengthening the regulatory framework for nuclear safety.
- Under the Nuclear Energy Mission announced in the Union Budget 2025–26, ₹20,000 crore has been allocated for the research, design, development and deployment of indigenous SMRs.
- Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is developing three indigenous reactor designs—220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200), 55 MWe Small Modular Reactor (SMR-55) and up to 5 MWth High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (HTGCR) for hydrogen production.
About Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
- Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are nuclear reactors generally 300 MWe or less, designed with modular technology using factory fabrication, serial production and shorter construction time.
- Unlike conventional nuclear reactors of around 1,000 MWe or more, SMRs require lower upfront investment and can be deployed incrementally according to electricity demand.
- Most near-term SMRs are based on Light Water Reactor (LWR) technology, particularly Pressurised Water Reactors (PWRs), while advanced designs include Fast Neutron Reactors (FNRs), High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactors (HTGRs) and Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs).
- Their compact size makes them suitable for remote and off-grid areas, industrial clusters, captive industrial power generation, repurposing retiring coal-based thermal power plants and hydrogen production.
India’s Indigenous SMR Programme
- The programme is being implemented by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) through BARC with the objective of developing and operationalising at least five indigenous SMRs by 2033.
- The three indigenous reactor designs under development are:
- BSMR-200 (220 MWe): Indigenous Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) jointly developed by BARC and NPCIL; Tarapur, Maharashtra has been approved as the site, and in-principle approval for engineering and construction has been received.
- SMR-55 (55 MWe): Indigenous Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR); Tarapur, Maharashtra has been approved as the site and in-principle approval for engineering and construction has been received.
- HTGCR (up to 5 MWth): Being developed at BARC, Visakhapatnam, as a nuclear heat source to be coupled with the copper-chlorine thermochemical cycle for hydrogen production; siting consent and Terms of Reference (ToR) for environmental clearance have been received.
- The lead units of these SMRs will be established at DAE sites for technology demonstration.
Status of Nuclear Energy in India
- India currently operates 24 nuclear power reactors across seven sites with a total installed capacity of 8.78 GW.
- Nuclear power capacity is expected to reach around 22 GW by 2031–32 through projects presently under implementation.
- Beyond 2032, NPCIL is expected to establish another 32 GW through Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) and Light Water Reactors (LWRs), taking total capacity to about 54 GW by 2047.
- The remaining 46 GW is expected to be developed by Central and State Public Sector Enterprises, State Governments, private sector and joint ventures under different business models.
- The long-term target under the Nuclear Energy Mission is to achieve 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047.
Significance of this Initiative
- Strengthens Energy Security: Diversifies India’s energy mix by providing reliable, low-carbon baseload power and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
- Supports Industrial Decarbonisation: Provides captive clean power for energy-intensive industries such as steel, aluminium, cement and other metal industries, while enabling green hydrogen production.
- Promotes Clean Energy Transition: Supports India’s target of 100 GW nuclear power capacity by 2047 and its Net Zero emissions target by 2070.
- Encourages Indigenous Technology and Private Participation: Promotes indigenous reactor development, domestic manufacturing, nuclear R&D ecosystem and private sector participation through the SHANTI Act, 2025.