PARLIAMENT QUESTION: DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL MODULAR REACTORS

1. At a Glance

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are advanced nuclear reactors of up to ~300 MWe capacity, factory-fabricated, transportable, and deployable on smaller footprints than conventional reactors [S1].
India's response is the Nuclear Energy Mission, announced in Union Budget 2025–26, with a ₹20,000 crore outlay for R&D and deployment of SMRs by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) [S1][S3].
Strategically tied to the 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047 target (Viksit Bharat) and decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors [S3].

11 March 2026: DAE answered a Parliament Question detailing three indigenous SMR designs (BSMR-200, SMR-55, HTGR) and project-wise cost outlays [S1].
Follows Budget 2025–26 announcement of the Nuclear Energy Mission (₹20,000 cr) and the goal of five indigenously designed operational SMRs by 2033 [S3][S4].
Government has also signalled amendments to the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 to enable private sector entry [S3].

India's three-stage nuclear programme (Bhabha, 1954) historically focused on PHWRs → FBRs → Thorium; SMRs are a parallel modular track [S3].
Budget 2025–26 (1 Feb 2025): Nuclear Energy Mission for R&D of SMRs launched with ₹20,000 cr [S4].
BSMR jointly designed by BARC + NPCIL, based on proven Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) technology using Slightly Enriched Uranium (SEU) [S2].
In-principle approval received for BSMR-200; AEC cleared proposal for Cabinet Committee submission [S2].

Parent ministry: Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), directly under PMO [S1].
Implementing R&D body: BARC; commercial partner: NPCIL [S1][S2].
Total Mission outlay: ₹20,000 crore [S1][S3].
Three SMR designs under development [S1]:
BSMR-200 — 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor; cost outlay ₹5,960 cr.
SMR-55 — 55 MWe Small Modular Reactor (2 units mentioned).
HTGR — Up to 5 MWth High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor for hydrogen generation.
Lead unit of BSMR-200: proposed at Tarapur Atomic Power Station, Maharashtra; lead-unit cost ~₹5,700 cr; construction time 60–72 months post sanction [S2].
Deployment target: at least 5 indigenously designed operational SMRs by 2033 [S3].
Long-term capacity target: 100 GW nuclear by 2047 [S3].

Economic: ₹20,000 cr fiscal push; lead-unit capex ~₹5,700 cr per BSMR-200 — high upfront but modularity lowers per-unit risk and enables brownfield retrofit of retiring thermal sites [S1][S2].
Environmental: Low-carbon baseload power critical for net-zero by 2070; HTGR variant enables green hydrogen production for hard-to-abate sectors [S1][S3].
Scientific/Technological: BSMR uses PWR with Slightly Enriched Uranium — a departure from India's traditional PHWR/natural uranium fuel cycle [S2].
Legal/Constitutional: Atomic energy is a Union List subject (Entry 6). Proposed amendments to Atomic Energy Act 1962 (state monopoly) and CLNDA 2010 (operator-supplier liability) to unlock private capital [S3].
Geopolitical: Aligns India with global SMR push (US NuScale, Russia RITM-200, China ACP100); India seeks indigenous IP rather than imports [S3].
Administrative: Lead units at DAE sites for technology demonstration — bypasses public-hearing delays at greenfield sites [S1].

1 Feb 2025: FM Nirmala Sitharaman announces Nuclear Energy Mission in Union Budget 2025–26 [S4].
2025: BARC commences design work on BSMR-200, SMR-55, and 5 MWth HTGR [S1].
2025–26: In-principle approval for BSMR-200; AEC clears proposal for Cabinet submission; Tarapur site identified [S2].
11 March 2026: Parliament Question response details cost outlays per reactor type [S1].

SMR capacity threshold internationally: up to 300 MWe [S1].
BSMR-200 = 220 MWe (note: branded "200" but rated 220 MWe) [S1].
SMR-55 = 55 MWe [S1].
HTGR variant = up to 5 MWth, purpose: hydrogen generation [S1].
BSMR-200 cost outlay: ₹5,960 crore [S1].
Nuclear Energy Mission total outlay: ₹20,000 crore [S1].
Lead unit of BSMR-200 site: Tarapur, Maharashtra [S2].
BSMR construction time: 60–72 months post sanction [S2].
Designed jointly by BARC + NPCIL [S2].
Fuel for BSMR: Slightly Enriched Uranium (SEU) using PWR technology [S2].
Target: 5 operational SMRs by 2033; 100 GW nuclear by 2047 [S3].
Two Acts to be amended: Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 [S3].
Lead units to be located at DAE sites for technology demonstration [S1].

GS-III: Science & Tech (indigenisation of nuclear tech); Infrastructure – Energy; Environment (clean-energy transition).
GS-II: Government policies and interventions (Nuclear Energy Mission); statutory amendments.
Possible question stems:
"Discuss the role of Small Modular Reactors in India's energy transition and the regulatory reforms needed to operationalise them."
"Examine how the Nuclear Energy Mission (2025) reorients India's three-stage nuclear programme."
"Critically evaluate the case for amending the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 in light of private sector participation in SMRs."

Three-Stage Nuclear Programme — context for thorium-uranium fuel cycle choices.
Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 — operator-supplier liability debate.
Atomic Energy Act, 1962 — state monopoly being relaxed.
India's Net-Zero 2070 / Panchamrit pledges (COP26) — emission framing.
National Green Hydrogen Mission (2023) — links to HTGR.
NPCIL, BARC, AEC, NSCT — institutional architecture of DAE.
IAEA & NSG — international nuclear governance India navigates.
Kudankulam, Tarapur, Kalpakkam plants — site-specific factual base.

BSMR-200 is rated 220 MWe, not 200 MWe — the "200" is brand nomenclature [S1].
SMR-55 is 55 MWe (electrical) while HTGR is 5 MWth (thermal) — units differ.
Mission is housed under DAE (PMO), not Ministry of Power or MNRE.
BSMR uses PWR with Slightly Enriched Uranium, breaking from India's PHWR/natural-uranium tradition [S2].
Target of 5 SMRs by 2033 ≠ the 100 GW by 2047 target — different milestones [S3].
₹20,000 cr is the Mission outlay, not the cost of one reactor — BSMR-200 alone costs ₹5,960 cr [S1].

[S1] PARLIAMENT QUESTION: DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL MODULAR REACTORS (PIB, DAE, 11 Mar 2026) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2238303 — (tier: 1)
[S2] PARLIAMENT QUESTION: PROGRESS OF THE BHARAT SMALL MODULAR REACTOR (PIB) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2118377 — (tier: 1)
[S3] A NUCLEAR ENERGY MISSION FOR R&D OF SMALL MODULAR REACTORS WILL BE SET UP: BUDGET 2025-26 (PIB) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2098367 — (tier: 1)
[S4] Nuclear Power in Union Budget 2025-26 (PIB) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2099244 — (tier: 1)