PARLIAMENT QUESTION: PRODUCTION OF NUCLEAR ENERGY

1. At a Glance

• Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha Q&A (11 Feb 2026) by MoS (IC) Science & Technology / Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh disclosing India's installed nuclear capacity, 5-year generation, and the Nuclear Energy Mission for 100 GW by 2047 [1].
• Tests aspirant familiarity with Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), NPCIL, and the new SHANTI Act, 2025 that opens nuclear power to the private sector [1][2].
• Direct link to India's net-zero-by-2070 trajectory and 500 GW non-fossil by 2030 commitment [5].

2. Why in the News

• 11 Feb 2026 Parliament reply quantifying nuclear generation: 56,681 MU in 2024-25, up from 43,029 MU in 2020-21 [1].
• SHANTI Act received Presidential assent on 21 Dec 2025, permitting private participation — a structural shift after 7 decades of state monopoly [2].
• Union Budget 2025-26 earmarked ₹20,000 crore for Bharat Small Modular Reactors (BSMRs), targeting 5 indigenous SMRs operational by 2033 [5][3].

3. Background & Evolution

• 1948: Atomic Energy Act → DAE (1954) under PM directly [2].
• Atomic Energy Act, 1962 — bedrock statute, state monopoly [2].
• 3-Stage Programme (Homi Bhabha): PHWRs → FBRs → Thorium-based [3].
• Civil Nuclear Liability Act, 2010 post Indo-US nuclear deal (123 Agreement, 2008) [2].
• Union Budget 2025-26 announces Nuclear Energy Mission; SHANTI Bill passed by both Houses Dec 2025; assented 21 Dec 2025 [2][5].

4. Core Static Facts

• Installed capacity (Feb 2026 reply): 8,780 MW across 24 plants in commercial operation (excl. RAPS-1) [1].
• Target: 100 GW by 2047 (~10% of national energy needs) [5].
• Interim target: 22,480 MW by 2031-32 via 10 reactors across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh [5].
• Ministry/Dept: Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), directly under PMO [1].
• Operator: NPCIL (Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd); regulator AERB [2].
• 5-year generation (Million Units) [1]:
• 2024-25: 56,681
• 2023-24: 47,971
• 2022-23: 45,855
• 2021-22: 47,112

• 2020-21: 43,029

• SHANTI Act, 2025 — assent 21 Dec 2025; liability tiered ₹100 cr – ₹3,000 cr by capacity; Centre retains exclusive control over enrichment, isotopic separation, spent fuel, heavy water [2].

• Budget allocation: ₹20,000 cr for BSMR R&D; 5 SMRs by 2033 [5].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic

• Capex-heavy, long-gestation; SHANTI Act unlocks private/JV capital to scale to 100 GW [2].
• ₹20,000 cr BSMR outlay seeds an indigenous SMR supply chain [5].

Environmental / Climate

• Low-carbon baseload — central to net-zero 2070 and 500 GW non-fossil by 2030 [5].
• Nuclear at ~3% of installed mix; mission lifts share toward ~10% of energy demand [5].

Legal / Constitutional

• Atomic Energy is Union List Entry 6; DAE under PMO; SHANTI Act, 2025 repeals/modernises 1962 framework, retaining state monopoly over sensitive fuel-cycle activities [2].
• Liability regime co-exists with CLNDA, 2010 Supplier Liability under Sec 17(b) [2].

Scientific / Technological

• 3-stage thorium programme; PFBR Kalpakkam under commissioning [3].
• SMRs (≤300 MW) — modular, factory-built, suitable for retiring thermal sites [5].

Strategic / Geopolitical

• Enables fuel supply diplomacy with NSG waiver (2008) partners (US, France, Russia, Canada) [5].
• Private participation may attract US industry delegations (already engaged Apr 2026) [2].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• Feb 2025: Union Budget announces Nuclear Energy Mission; ₹20,000 cr for SMRs [3][5].
• Dec 2025: SHANTI Bill passed by Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha; assent 21 Dec 2025 [2].
• 11 Feb 2026: Parliament reply confirms 8,780 MW / 24 plants / 56,681 MU (2024-25) [1].
• Workshops on SHANTI Act PPP roadmap; US industry delegation meets Dr. Jitendra Singh on private investment [2].

7. Prelims Hooks

• India has 24 nuclear plants in commercial operation (excl. RAPS-1), totalling 8,780 MW (as of 11 Feb 2026) [1].
• Nuclear generation 2024-25 = 56,681 MU, highest in five years [1].
• Nuclear Energy Mission target: 100 GW by 2047 [5].
• Interim target: 22,480 MW by 2031-32 [5].
• SHANTI Act = Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Act, 2025 [2].
• SHANTI Act assented by President on 21 December 2025 [2].
• DAE reports directly to the Prime Minister, not to any line ministry [1].
• Atomic Energy = Union List Entry 6 (Seventh Schedule) [2].
• NPCIL operates commercial reactors; AERB is the safety regulator [2].
• Budget 2025-26 outlay for Bharat Small Modular Reactors: ₹20,000 crore; 5 SMRs operational by 2033 [5].
• SHANTI Act liability: ₹100 cr to ₹3,000 cr tiered by capacity [2].
• Centre retains exclusive control over enrichment, isotopic separation, spent fuel mgmt, heavy water [2].
• Mission aligns with net-zero 2070 and 500 GW non-fossil by 2030 goals [5].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III — Infrastructure: Energy; Science & Tech: indigenisation of technology.
• GS-II — Government policies; statutory bodies (DAE, AERB).
• Plausible stems: 1. "Critically examine the SHANTI Act, 2025 as an enabler of India's 100 GW-by-2047 nuclear ambition. What safeguards are essential?" 2. "Discuss the role of Small Modular Reactors in India's energy transition and net-zero commitment." 3. "Despite a three-stage nuclear programme dating to the 1950s, nuclear power contributes <3% of India's electricity. Analyse the bottlenecks and recent reforms."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 — supplier liability debate.
• Indo-US 123 Agreement & NSG waiver (2008) — strategic context.
• Three-Stage Nuclear Programme & Thorium / PFBR Kalpakkam.
• Bharat Small Modular Reactors (BSMRs).
• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.
• 500 GW non-fossil target & Panchamrit (COP-26).
• Department of Atomic Energy structure (BARC, NPCIL, IGCAR, UCIL).
• Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC), 2016 ratification.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• DAE is under the PMO, not under MoS S&T — though the MoS S&T (IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh is the answering minister [1].
• Installed capacity is 8,780 MW (Feb 2026 figure) — older texts cite 8,180 MW or 7,480 MW [1][5].
• 24 plants in commercial operation is excluding RAPS-1 (under decommissioning) [1].
• SHANTI Act ≠ CLNDA 2010; SHANTI replaces parts of Atomic Energy Act 1962 framework for participation, while CLNDA governs liability [2].
• 100 GW is the 2047 target, not 2030/2035; 22,480 MW is the 2031-32 milestone [5].