19 March 2026·PIB

PARLIAMENT QUESTION: NUCLEAR ISSUES

In this note

1. At a Glance

Lok Sabha Unstarred Question answered by Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) on 19 March 2026, covering customs-duty reform for nuclear imports, domestic supply-chain plans for the fleet-mode 10 × 700 MWe PHWRs, and BARC's role [1].
Sits at the intersection of energy security, indigenisation (Atmanirbhar Bharat), and India's Nuclear Energy Mission announced in Union Budget 2025-26 [5].
UPSC relevance: GS-III (energy, S&T, infrastructure) and GS-II (governance, Parliamentary devices).

DAE's Parliament reply (19 Mar 2026) flagged zero customs duty on imports for nuclear power projects to lower unit cost of electricity from foreign-cooperation projects (e.g., Kudankulam, Jaitapur, Kovvada) [1].
Follows Budget 2025-26's Nuclear Energy Mission with ₹20,000 crore outlay for R&D of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), targeting 5 indigenous SMRs operational by 2033 [5].
NPCIL ramp-up of 10 fleet-mode 700 MWe PHWRs sanctioned in June 2017 [2].

1948: Atomic Energy Act (later 1962 Act); DAE set up under PM's direct charge.
1969: First nuclear power (Tarapur BWR with US cooperation).
2008: India-US Civil Nuclear Agreement; NSG waiver.
2010: Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act.
June 2017: Cabinet bulk approval for 10 indigenous 700 MWe PHWRs in fleet mode — first-of-its-kind bulk sanction [2].
2024: KAPS-4 (700 MWe PHWR, Gujarat) achieved full power [4].
Feb 2025: Budget launches Nuclear Energy Mission + amendments proposed to Atomic Energy Act & CLND Act to enable private participation [5].

Implementing entity: Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) — wholly-owned PSU under DAE [2].
Fast Breeder Reactor: 500 MW PFBR at Kalpakkam by BHAVINI [2].
R&D body: Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai (parent: DAE) [1].
Current installed nuclear capacity: 8,180 MW across 24 reactors [3].
Target by 2031-32: 22,480 MW (≈ tripling) [3].
Fleet-mode PHWR sites: Kaiga-5&6 (Karnataka), GHAVP-3&4 (Gorakhpur, Haryana), Chutka-1&2 (MP), Mahi Banswara (Rajasthan) [2].
Bharat Small Reactor (BSR): 220 MWe PHWR adapted for captive industrial use (steel, aluminium) [5].
SMR Mission outlay: ₹20,000 crore; goal — 5 SMRs by 2033 [5].
Foreign cooperation project: Kovvada (Andhra Pradesh), 6 × 1208 MW with USA — in-principle approval [3].

Economic

Zero customs duty reduces project capex & unit tariff for import-heavy reactors (Russian VVERs at Kudankulam) [1].
Bulk ordering for 10 PHWRs creates scale economies and order-book continuity for domestic vendors [1].

Scientific / Technological

NPCIL strategy: import substitution via indigenous equipment development through BARC support [1].
SMR push aligns India with global IAEA-tracked trend; BSR is a unique Indian adaptation of proven PHWR tech [5].

Administrative / Governance

Class-1 local supplier reservation under Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order; MSME preference in bids; vendor meets [1].
Federal interface: states host plants (Karnataka, Haryana, MP, Rajasthan, Gujarat, TN, AP) but Atomic Energy is Union List Entry 6 [2][3].

Strategic

Triples capacity → reduces fossil-fuel imports; complements Panchamrit COP-26 pledges (500 GW non-fossil by 2030).
Foreign-cooperation projects (Russia, France, USA) leverage NSG waiver (2008) [3].

Legal / Constitutional

Atomic Energy Act, 1962 (Union List); Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 (operator liability cap ₹1,500 cr).
Budget 2025-26 proposes amendments to enable private sector in nuclear power [5].

19 Mar 2026 — DAE Parliament reply on zero customs duty + NPCIL supply-chain measures [1].
Feb 2025 — Nuclear Energy Mission launched; ₹20,000 cr; 5 SMRs by 2033 [5].
2024 — KAPS-3 & KAPS-4 (700 MWe indigenous PHWRs, Kakrapar) reached full power [4].
2024-25 — Rawatbhata 700 MWe PHWR reached full power [referenced via S2 list].

NPCIL is a PSU under DAE, not Ministry of Power [2].
Fleet-mode 10 × 700 MWe PHWR sanction year: 2017 [2].
BHAVINI implements the 500 MW PFBR at Kalpakkam [2].
India's installed nuclear capacity (latest): 8,180 MW / 24 reactors [3].
2031-32 target: 22,480 MW [3].
Nuclear Energy Mission outlay: ₹20,000 crore (Budget 2025-26) [5].
SMR target: 5 operational by 2033 [5].
Bharat Small Reactor = 220 MWe PHWR for captive industrial use [5].
Kovvada (AP) project: 6 × 1208 MW with USA [3].
BARC parent ministry: DAE (directly under PM) [1].
MSME preference and Class-1 local supplier reservation are key supply-chain levers [1].
Customs duty on nuclear project imports → zero to cut unit electricity cost [1].
Atomic Energy is Entry 6, Union List.

GS-III: Energy security; Infrastructure — Energy; Science & Technology — indigenisation; Achievements of Indians in S&T.
GS-II: Government policies for development; Parliamentary questions (instrument of accountability).
Question stems: 1. "Critically examine the role of fleet-mode nuclear reactor procurement in achieving India's 22,480 MW target by 2031-32." (GS-III) 2. "Discuss the strategic and economic rationale for opening India's nuclear sector to private players and SMRs." (GS-III) 3. "Zero customs duty on nuclear imports is a double-edged sword for indigenisation. Comment." (GS-III)

Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 — operator liability, supplier recourse debate.
India-US 123 Agreement & NSG waiver (2008) — geopolitics of nuclear commerce.
Three-Stage Nuclear Programme (Bhabha) — PHWR → FBR → Thorium U-233 cycle.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) — safeguards, additional protocol.
Panchamrit / COP-26 commitments — links to clean-energy mix.
Make in India / PPP-MII Order — Class-1 local supplier framework.
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) — global tech landscape (NuScale, Rolls-Royce).
PFBR Kalpakkam & BHAVINI — closed fuel cycle.

NPCIL is under DAE, not Ministry of Power or Ministry of New & Renewable Energy.
DAE reports directly to the PM, not to a Cabinet Minister of a line ministry.
Fleet-mode PHWRs = 700 MWe indigenous, not 540 MWe (Tarapur-3/4) and not foreign VVERs.
BSR (220 MWe PHWR) ≠ SMR (under R&D); both distinct under the Nuclear Energy Mission [5].
PFBR is implemented by BHAVINI, not NPCIL.
CLND Act liability cap is ₹1,500 cr on operator, with right of recourse against supplier — frequently confused.