Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
Also called: BARC · Topic: Energy Resources of India: Conventional and Non-conventional · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 5 "Mineral and Energy Resources"
Meaning
The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is India's leading nuclear research centre. It is at Trombay in Mumbai. It began in 1954 as the Atomic Energy Establishment. In 1967 it was renamed after Homi Bhabha, the scientist who planned India's nuclear programme. BARC works on reactors, nuclear fuel and related technology. This work supports India's three-stage plan to use its large thorium reserves in the long run.
Example
BARC at Trombay, on the edge of Mumbai harbour in Maharashtra, designs and tests reactors and fuel. Its work feeds power stations such as Kakrapar, Kaiga and Rawatbhata.
Don't confuse with
- Atomic Energy Commission: set up in 1948. It makes policy for nuclear energy. BARC is the research centre that does the scientific work.
Related concepts
- Nuclear energy
- Uranium
- Thorium
- Tarapur Atomic Power Station
- Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant
- Jaitapur nuclear project
- Three-stage nuclear power programme
- Pressurised heavy water reactor
- Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor
- Small modular reactor