PARLIAMENT QUESTION: NUCLEAR ENERGY PROJECTS

1. At a Glance

Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) statement to Parliament (12 Mar 2026) on India's nuclear power footprint, pipeline reactors and the Nuclear Energy Mission (NEM) target of 100 GW by 2047 [S1][S2].
Relevant for GS-III (Energy/Infrastructure) and GS-II (Government policies); ties together net-zero-2070, energy security, and indigenous PHWR/SMR technology [S2][S3].

12 Mar 2026 Lok Sabha reply by DAE updating reactor numbers, pipeline (18 reactors / 13,600 MW), and three new fleet sites (KAPP-5&6, RAPP-9&10, NAPP-3&4) planned by 2035 [S1].
Follows the Union Budget 2025-26 launch of the Nuclear Energy Mission with ₹20,000 crore outlay for indigenous Small Modular Reactors (SMRs); ≥5 SMRs to be operational by 2033 [S2][S3].

India's three-stage nuclear programme conceived by Homi Bhabha (1950s): Stage-1 PHWRs (natural U) → Stage-2 Fast Breeders (Pu-U) → Stage-3 Thorium (U-233) [S2].
Atomic Energy Act, 1962 & Atomic Energy Commission (1948) govern the sector; NPCIL (1987) operates commercial reactors; BHAVINI (2003) implements fast-breeder programme [S1].
Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal (2008) + IAEA safeguards + NSG waiver opened foreign fuel/tech access; CLNDA, 2010 governs liability [S2].
2024–25 reform push: fleet-mode 10×700 MW PHWRs sanctioned; Bharat Small Reactor (BSR) & BSMR-200 concept; Budget 2025-26 announces NEM [S2][S3].

Installed capacity: 8,780 MW across 24 reactors (excludes RAPS-1, 100 MW) [S1].
Under implementation: 18 reactors / 13,600 MW — 8 under construction (incl. PFBR-500 MW) + 10 in pre-project; completion progressively by 2031-32 [S1].
Post-completion target capacity: 22,380 MW [S3].
New fleet (by 2035): KAPP-5&6, RAPP-9&10, NAPP-3&4 — each 2×700 MW indigenous PHWR [S1].
NEM goal: 100 GW nuclear by 2047; aligns with Net-Zero 2070 [S2].
PFBR: 500 MWe at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, under BHAVINI commissioning [S1].
SMR designs (BARC-led): BSMR-200 (200 MWe), SMR-55 (55 MWe), HTGCR up to 5 MWth [S2].
Budget outlay (NEM, FY 25-26): ₹20,000 crore for SMR R&D; ≥5 indigenous SMRs by 2033 [S2].
Nodal Ministry: Department of Atomic Energy under Prime Minister's Office (not MoP/MNRE) [S1].

Economic — Capital-intensive baseload; fleet-mode 10×700 MW PHWRs cut per-MW cost; brownfield SMRs can repurpose retiring coal plants [S2].
Environmental — Low-carbon baseload; key to 500 GW non-fossil-2030 INDC and 2070 net-zero; replaces coal in energy-intensive industry [S2].
Scientific/Technological — Two-pronged: 700 MWe PHWR at greenfield + BSMR-200/SMR-55 for brownfield, off-grid, captive industrial use [S2].
Strategic — Reduces oil/coal import dependence; PFBR commissioning marks Stage-2 transition unlocking thorium pathway [S1][S2].
Legal/Governance — Atomic Energy Act 1962 reserves nuclear power to Centre (Union List Entry 6, 7th Schedule); CLNDA 2010 caps operator liability; amendments to allow private participation are under consideration as per NEM roadmap [S2].

Feb 2025: Union Budget 2025-26 announces Nuclear Energy Mission with ₹20,000 cr SMR outlay [S2].
2025: BHAVINI begins commissioning of PFBR-500 MWe at Kalpakkam [S1].
Mar 2026: DAE Parliament reply confirming 8,780 MW operational, 13,600 MW under implementation, plus KAPP-5&6/RAPP-9&10/NAPP-3&4 sanctioned [S1].

Current installed nuclear capacity: 8,780 MW / 24 reactors (excluding RAPS-1) [S1].
RAPS-1 (100 MW) is excluded — under extended shutdown [S1].
18 reactors / 13,600 MW under implementation, completion by 2031-32 [S1].
PFBR: 500 MWe, sodium-cooled fast breeder, located at Kalpakkam under BHAVINI [S1].
NEM target: 100 GW by 2047; 5 indigenous SMRs by 2033 [S2].
KAPP, RAPP, NAPP units to be added — each 2×700 MW indigenous PHWR [S1].
BSMR-200 = 200 MWe; SMR-55 = 55 MWe; designs by BARC [S2].
₹20,000 crore SMR budget under NEM (Budget 2025-26) [S2].
Implementing agency for commercial reactors: NPCIL; for fast breeders: BHAVINI [S1].
Atomic Energy is Entry 6, Union List; governed by Atomic Energy Act, 1962 [S2].
Post-completion projected capacity: 22,380 MW [S3].

GS-III — Energy security; Infrastructure; Indigenisation of technology.
GS-II — Government policies (NEM); Centre-State (siting, land).
Plausible stems:
"Discuss the role of Small Modular Reactors in achieving India's Nuclear Energy Mission target of 100 GW by 2047."
"Critically examine the legal and institutional reforms needed to enable private participation in India's nuclear power sector."
"Assess the significance of the commissioning of the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor for India's three-stage nuclear programme."

Three-stage nuclear programme — directly contextualises PFBR/thorium roadmap.
CLNDA 2010 — liability bottleneck for foreign reactor vendors.
Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal & NSG waiver — fuel-supply backbone.
Net-Zero 2070 & INDCs — demand-side rationale.
IAEA Safeguards & Additional Protocol — international compliance framework.
Thorium reserves (Kerala/Odisha beach sands) — Stage-3 feedstock.
Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL) — fuel supply chain.
Renewable Energy Mission / PM-Surya Ghar — comparative clean-energy push.

Confusing nodal ministry: DAE reports to PMO, NOT MNRE or Ministry of Power.
RAPS-1 (100 MW) is excluded from the 8,780 MW figure — easy misread.
PFBR is under BHAVINI, not NPCIL — both are DAE PSUs but distinct.
NEM target = 100 GW by 2047, not by 2030 or 2070 (2070 is net-zero year).
BSMR-200 (200 MWe) ≠ SMR-55 (55 MWe) — two separate indigenous SMR designs.

[S1] PARLIAMENT QUESTION: NUCLEAR ENERGY PROJECTS — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2238911 — (tier 1)
[S2] A New Chapter in India's Nuclear Journey / Nuclear Mission Budget 2025-26 — https://www.pib.gov.in/FactsheetDetails.aspx?id=150617&NoteId=150617&ModuleId=16&reg=3&lang=1 — (tier 1)
[S3] PARLIAMENT QUESTION: ENHANCING NUCLEAR POWER CAPACITY — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2198951 — (tier 1)