PARLIAMENT QUESTION: NUCLEAR ENERGY

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PARLIAMENT QUESTION: NUCLEAR ENERGY — UPSC Study Note

1. At a Glance

• India's Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) answered a Parliament question on 5 Feb 2026 detailing the Nuclear Energy Mission, target of 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047, the new SHANTI Act, and five indigenous SMR designs to be deployed by 2033 [S1].
• Captures a structural shift: opening of India's nuclear sector to private participation and pivot to Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) for captive, remote, and fossil-replacement use [S1][S2].
• Convergence of GS-III energy security + GS-III S&T + GS-II governance/legislation; high-yield Prelims terrain (Acts, Atomic Energy Act, numbers).

2. Why in the News

• 5 Feb 2026 — Lok Sabha reply by DAE outlining Nuclear Energy Mission progress, SMR road-map, SHANTI Act enactment [S1].
• Union Budget 2025-26 announced the Nuclear Energy Mission with ₹20,000 crore outlay for SMR R&D and target of ≥5 indigenous SMRs by 2033 [S2][S3].
• SHANTI Bill, 2025 introduced to overhaul the licensing regime and admit private sector into nuclear power generation [S4].

3. Background & Evolution

• 1948: Atomic Energy Commission constituted under Homi Bhabha; 1954: DAE established under direct charge of PM.
• Atomic Energy Act, 1962 — Central monopoly over nuclear power; only Govt. companies (NPCIL, BHAVINI) could operate.
• Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 — operator liability regime.
• 2008: India–US 123 Agreement; NSG waiver opened civil nuclear trade.
• Three-Stage Programme (Bhabha doctrine): PHWR → FBR → Thorium U-233.
• Budget 2025-26: Nuclear Energy Mission announced [S2][S3].
• 2025: SHANTI Bill introduced [S4]; subsequently enacted [S1].

4. Core Static Facts

• Nodal body: Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), reports directly to PMO [S1].
• Operating company: Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL); FBR via BHAVINI; R&D at BARC (Trombay) [S1].
• Current installed capacity: 8,780 MW (8.78 GW) across 24 reactors (excl. RAPS-1 100 MW) [S5].
• 2031-32 projection: 22,480 MW / 22.38 GW with ongoing 700 MW PHWR fleet + 1000 MW LWRs [S5][S6].
• 2047 target: 100 GW under Nuclear Energy Mission [S1].
• SMR allocation: ₹20,000 crore under Budget 2025-26; ≥5 indigenous SMR designs operational by 2033 [S2].
• BARC SMR designs: 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR); 55 MWe SMR; up to 5 MWth High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (HTGR) [S1].
• SHANTI Act = Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India — enables private sector entry; permits research/design without licence for peaceful uses [S4].
• Flagship 700 MW PHWR: KAPS-3 and KAPS-4 (full-power achieved); fleet-mode 10×700 MW PHWR sanctioned [S5].
• Kaiga 5 & 6 (2×700 MW) — Kaiga site capacity to rise to 2,280 MW [S5].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

• Economic: ₹20,000 cr SMR push; nuclear projected to contribute ~10% of India's energy mix by 2047 [S2]. Captive deployment for energy-intensive industry (steel, aluminium, chemicals) cuts grid stress [S1].
• Environmental: Nuclear is low-carbon baseload complementing solar/wind variability; SMRs can repurpose retiring fossil plants, reusing grid + workforce [S1]. Aligns with India's 2070 Net-Zero pledge.
• Scientific/Technological: Indigenous BSMR 220 MWe, 55 MWe SMR, 5 MWth HTGR; HTGR enables process heat / hydrogen production [S1]. Continues three-stage programme with closed fuel cycle.
• Legal/Constitutional: Atomic Energy is Entry 6, Union List (Schedule VII). SHANTI Act amends/supersedes elements of Atomic Energy Act, 1962 to allow private participation [S4]. Civil Liability Act 2010 caps operator liability at ₹1,500 cr — a sticking point for foreign suppliers.
• Geopolitical: Enables expanded cooperation with US, France, Russia (Kudankulam VVERs), Japan; SMR exports a future strategic lever; NSG membership pending.
• Administrative: Regulatory oversight by AERB (Atomic Energy Regulatory Board); persistent question of an independent statutory nuclear regulator (NSRA Bill 2011 lapsed).

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• Feb 2025: Budget 2025-26 announces Nuclear Energy Mission, ₹20,000 cr for SMR R&D [S2][S3].
• 2025: SHANTI Bill, 2025 introduced — opens nuclear power to private sector [S4].
• 2025: KAPS-4 (700 MW PHWR) achieves full-power operation [S5].
• 5 Feb 2026: Parliament reply confirms SHANTI Act enacted; five SMR designs notified; deployment target 2033 [S1].

7. Prelims Hooks

• Nuclear Energy Mission target: 100 GW by 2047 [S1].
• SMR R&D outlay in Budget 2025-26: ₹20,000 crore [S2].
• Number of indigenous SMR designs to be deployed by 2033: Five [S1].
• BARC SMRs: 220 MWe BSMR, 55 MWe SMR, ≤5 MWth HTGR [S1].
• Current installed nuclear capacity: 8,780 MW / 24 reactors [S5].
• Capacity in 2031-32 (projected): 22,480 MW [S5].
• SHANTI full-form: Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India [S4].
• Implementing ministry/dept: Department of Atomic Energy, under PMO (not Ministry of Power) [S1].
• Operating utility for nuclear power: NPCIL (BHAVINI for FBR).
• Regulator: AERB (Atomic Energy Regulatory Board).
• Enabling Act (parent): Atomic Energy Act, 1962; Liability Act: CLND Act, 2010.
• Atomic Energy is in Union List — Entry 6 (Seventh Schedule).
• HTGR application: process heat / hydrogen production; deployable in remote off-grid locations [S1].
• Fleet-mode reactors: 10 × 700 MW PHWR sanctioned indigenously [S5].
• KAPS-4 (700 MW PHWR) — first-of-a-kind indigenous design at full power [S5].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III: Energy security; Infrastructure-Energy; Science & Tech — indigenization, achievements.
• GS-II: Government policies and interventions; Acts (SHANTI, CLND).
• Probable stems: 1. "Examine the role of Small Modular Reactors in India's nuclear road-map to 100 GW by 2047." 2. "The SHANTI Act marks a paradigm shift in India's atomic energy governance. Critically evaluate." 3. "India's three-stage nuclear programme remains the backbone of its low-carbon transition. Discuss in light of recent SMR initiatives."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Atomic Energy Act, 1962 & CLND Act, 2010 — statutory backbone.
• India's Three-Stage Nuclear Programme — PHWR → FBR → Thorium.
• Kudankulam, Jaitapur, Gorakhpur projects — site-specific facts.
• International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) — India is a partner.
• NSG / IAEA Additional Protocol — international regime.
• Net-Zero 2070 and Panchamrit pledges — clean-energy linkage.
• Green Hydrogen Mission — HTGR synergy.
• AERB & proposed NSRA — regulatory architecture.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• DAE reports to PMO, not Ministry of Power or Ministry of New & Renewable Energy.
• NPCIL operates nuclear plants; BARC is R&D; AERB regulates — do not interchange.
• 100 GW target year is 2047, not 2030 or 2070.
• SMR ≠ FBR; BSMR is 220 MWe PHWR-type, distinct from PFBR (500 MWe sodium-cooled at Kalpakkam).
• Atomic Energy is Union List, not Concurrent.
• SHANTI Act allows private R&D without licence only for peaceful uses; operating commercial reactors still requires regulatory approval [S4].

11. Sources

• [S1] Parliament Question: Nuclear Energy, DAE, 5 Feb 2026 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2223785 — (tier 1)
• [S2] A Nuclear Energy Mission for R&D of SMRs: Budget 2025-26 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2098367 — (tier 1)
• [S3] Nuclear Power in Union Budget 2025-26 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2099244 — (tier 1)
• [S4] SHANTI Bill, 2025 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2206598 — (tier 1)
• [S5] Parliament Question: Indigenous Nuclear Power Generation Capacity — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2198947 — (tier 1)
• [S6] Nuclear power capacity 7480 MW to 22480 MW by 2031 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1941010 — (tier 1)