Dr Jitendra Singh interacts with journalists at Media Round Table

1. At a Glance

• Media Round Table held by Union MoS (I/C) Science & Technology, Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Atomic Energy & Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh on 21 January 2026 [1].
• Covered three high-yield UPSC themes: nuclear energy reforms (SHANTI Bill regime), Gaganyaan timeline, and the ₹1 lakh crore RDI Fund [1].
• Signals India's "decisive inflection point" in nuclear policy — linking energy security, Net-Zero 2070, and private participation [1][4].

2. Why in the News

• Minister briefed press post-passage of the SHANTI Bill, 2025 (Dec 2025) and ahead of operationalisation of the RDI Fund and Gaganyaan G1 uncrewed mission [1][2].
• First tranche of RDI Fund (~₹4,000–5,000 crore) expected by end-January 2026 [1].

3. Background & Evolution

• Atomic Energy Act, 1962 + Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 — proposed to be repealed and replaced by SHANTI Bill 2025 (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India) [2].
• Union Budget 2025-26 launched Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat with ₹20,000 crore for SMR R&D [4].
• Gaganyaan — India's first human spaceflight, sanctioned 2018; final phase entered 2025 [1].
• Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) Act, 2023 is the umbrella under which the ₹1 lakh crore RDI Fund (approved by Cabinet, July 2025) operates [1].

4. Core Static Facts

• Ministry: Department of Atomic Energy (under PMO); Department of Space; DST [1].
• SHANTI Bill 2025: Tabled in Lok Sabha 15 Dec 2025, passed 17 Dec 2025; allows limited private sector entry in nuclear with regulatory oversight [2].
• Nuclear target: 100 GW by 2047 (currently 8,180 MW, to rise to 22,480 MW by 2031-32); 10 reactors under construction [4].
• SMR allocation: ₹20,000 crore; 5 indigenous SMRs operational by 2033 [4].
• RDI Fund corpus: ₹1,00,000 crore; second-level fund managers — Technology Development Board (TDB) and BIRAC [1].
• Gaganyaan G1 (uncrewed): likely H2 of 2026; crewed mission targeted 2027 [1].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Scientific / Technological

• Pivot to Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) — modular, factory-built, <300 MWe, deployable at retired thermal sites [4].
• RDI Fund bridges "lab-to-market" valley of death, includes quantum technologies [1].

Economic

• Nuclear scale-up integral to energy security and reducing thermal import dependence [1].
• Private capital unlock via SHANTI — first liberalisation since 1962 [2].

Legal / Constitutional

• Atomic Energy is Union List Entry 6; SHANTI Bill retains strong safety and liability safeguards per Minister's Lok Sabha statement [2].
• Repeals CLNDA 2010 — historically a deterrent for foreign suppliers post-Fukushima/Westinghouse stalemate [2].

Environmental / Climate

• Aligned with Panchamrit commitments and Net-Zero by 2070; nuclear positioned as firm low-carbon baseload [4].

Strategic

• Gaganyaan + Bharatiya Antariksh Station (2035) + Chandrayaan-4 form India's manned-space trajectory [1].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• Feb 2025: Nuclear Energy Mission announced in Budget 2025-26 [4].
• Jul 2025: Cabinet approves ₹1 lakh crore RDI Fund [1].
• 15–17 Dec 2025: SHANTI Bill tabled & passed by Lok Sabha [2].
• 21 Jan 2026: Media Round Table — RDI tranche, Gaganyaan H2 2026 timeline announced [1].

7. Prelims Hooks

• SHANTI = Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear energy for Transforming India [2].
• SHANTI Bill repeals Atomic Energy Act 1962 and CLNDA 2010 [2].
• Nuclear target: 100 GW by 2047 [4].
• Current installed nuclear capacity: 8,180 MW (≈ 8.18 GW) [4].
• Target by 2031-32: 22,480 MW [4].
• Budget 2025-26 allocates ₹20,000 crore for SMR R&D [4].
• 5 indigenously designed SMRs to be operational by 2033 [4].
• RDI Fund corpus = ₹1 lakh crore; managed via TDB and BIRAC as 2nd-level managers [1].
• Gaganyaan G1 uncrewed mission: H2 2026; crewed: 2027 [1].
• Atomic Energy and Space fall under PMO (Dr. Jitendra Singh as MoS) [1].
• Atomic Energy is Union List Entry 6 (Seventh Schedule) [2].
• Net-Zero target year: 2070 (referenced in SHANTI Bill statement) [2].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III — Science & Tech / Energy Security / Indigenisation of Technology.
• GS-II — Government Policies & Interventions (regulatory reform of atomic energy).
• Question stems: 1. "The SHANTI Bill, 2025 marks a paradigm shift in India's nuclear governance. Examine its implications for energy security and Net-Zero 2070." (GS-III) 2. "Private participation in nuclear energy raises both opportunities and liability concerns. Discuss." (GS-II/III) 3. "Evaluate the ₹1 lakh crore RDI Fund as a vehicle for bridging India's lab-to-market gap." (GS-III)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 — being repealed; supplier liability debate.
• Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat — Budget 2025-26 flagship.
• Anusandhan NRF Act, 2023 — parent framework for RDI Fund.
• Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) 2035 — Gaganyaan follow-on.
• India–US 123 Agreement (2008) — historical enabler of civil nuclear cooperation.
• Three-Stage Nuclear Programme (Bhabha) — thorium/U-233 cycle.
• AERB (Atomic Energy Regulatory Board) — independent regulator status debate.
• Small Modular Reactors (BSMR-200 by BARC) — indigenous SMR design.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• SHANTI ≠ SHAKTI. Correct acronym is SHANTI (Sustainable Harnessing And advancemeNT of nuclear energy for Transforming India).
• Atomic Energy is under PMO/DAE, not MNRE or Ministry of Power.
• RDI Fund's implementation is via TDB + BIRAC as second-level managers — not directly via ANRF disbursement.
• Gaganyaan G1 is uncrewed; crewed mission slipped to 2027, not 2026.
• 100 GW by 2047 is the nuclear target; do not confuse with 500 GW non-fossil by 2030 (Panchamrit).
• Current capacity is 8,180 MW, not 6,780 MW (older figure pre-KAPP-4).