PARLIAMENT QUESTION: DEVELOPMENT IN NUCLEAR ENERGY

1. At a Glance

• Nuclear Energy Mission (NEM) announced in Union Budget 2025-26, targeting 100 GWe nuclear capacity by 2047 to underpin India's Net Zero by 2070 pledge [1][2].
• Operationalised through the SHANTI Act, 2025 — opens nuclear sector to private participation for the first time [1][3].
• Twin-track strategy: large reactors (700 MWe indigenous PHWRs + imported advanced reactors) at greenfield sites, plus Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) including 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR) [1][2].

2. Why in the News

• PIB (1 April 2026): Parliament Question reply by Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) detailing NEM rollout, SHANTI Act enactment, and SMR programme [1].
• Earlier in Budget 2025-26 (1 Feb 2025): FM allocated ₹20,000 crore for SMR R&D; commitment of 5 indigenous SMRs operational by 2033 [2].

3. Background & Evolution

• 1948: Atomic Energy Act → Atomic Energy Commission (AEC).
• 1954: Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) created under PM.
• 1962: Atomic Energy Act, 1962 — governs nuclear activity.
• 2010: Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA) — supplier-liability clause stalled foreign investment.
• 2025 (Budget): Nuclear Energy Mission launched; ₹20,000 cr for SMRs [2].
• 2025: SHANTI Bill, 2025 introduced — amends/replaces restrictive provisions to allow private + foreign capital [3].
• 2026: SHANTI Act enacted; NEM under implementation [1].

4. Core Static Facts

• Full form — SHANTI: Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear energy for Transforming India [3].
• Implementing body: Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) — directly under PM [1].
• Operator: Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) [4].
• Designer of SMRs: Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) [1].
• Current installed capacity: 8,180 MW from 24 operating reactors (Jan 2025) [4].
• Under construction: 8 units / 6,800 MW [4].
• Target 2031-32: 22,480 MW [4].
• Target 2047: 100 GWe [1][2].
• SMR variants under BARC: 220 MWe BSMR, 55 MWe SMR, up to 5 MWth High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (HTGR) [1].
• SMR fund: ₹20,000 crore; ≥5 indigenous SMRs by 2033 [2].
• Indigenous large reactor: 700 MWe PHWR (fleet mode at Kakrapar, Rajasthan, Gorakhpur–Haryana, Mahi Banswara) [1][4].
• States receiving expansion fleet: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh [4].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic

• ₹20,000 cr SMR outlay catalyses domestic nuclear supply chain [2].
• Capacity quadrupling by 2047 reduces coal import bill and stabilises base-load tariff [1].

Environmental

• Nuclear is low-carbon base load — central to net-zero 2070 commitment under Paris Agreement [1].
• Repurposing of retiring fossil-fuel plant sites using SMRs cuts land + grid costs [1].

Scientific / Technological

• HTGR (≤5 MWth) supports hydrogen co-generation and process heat [1].
• BSMR (220 MWe) is a PHWR-derivative — leverages India's closed nuclear fuel cycle and thorium roadmap (Stage-2 → Stage-3) [1][4].

Legal / Constitutional

• Atomic Energy is Union List Entry 6 (Schedule VII).
• SHANTI Act dilutes state-monopoly clauses in Atomic Energy Act 1962 and reworks CLNDA 2010 supplier liability to attract private/foreign capital [3].

Geopolitical / Strategic

• 100 GWe target needs imported LWRs → revives Indo-US 123 Agreement (2008) flows, French (EDF–Jaitapur), Russian (Kudankulam) cooperation [1].
• SMR exports a future strategic tool (Global South energy diplomacy).

Administrative

• Private entry breaks NPCIL monopoly; AERB remains safety regulator [3].
• Brownfield SMR siting needs DISCOM + state government clearances → cooperative federalism stress test.

6. Recent Developments

• 1 Feb 2025: Budget 2025-26 — NEM + ₹20,000 cr SMR fund announced [2].
• 2025: NITI Aayog / DAE notes BSMR concept; PIB factsheet "A New Chapter in India's Nuclear Journey" [1].
• Mar 2025: RAPP-7 (Rawatbhata, 700 MWe PHWR) synchronised to Northern Grid [4].
• Dec 2025: SHANTI Bill text released [3].
• 1 Apr 2026: PIB Parliament Question reply consolidates NEM status [1].

7. Prelims Hooks

• Nuclear Energy Mission target: 100 GWe by 2047 [1].
• Budget 2025-26 SMR allocation: ₹20,000 crore [2].
• SMRs operational target year: 2033 (≥5 indigenous units) [2].
• SHANTI = Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear energy for Transforming India [3].
• Indigenous large reactor design: 700 MWe PHWR [1].
• BSMR capacity: 220 MWe (PHWR-type) [1].
• HTGR rating under BARC: up to 5 MWth [1].
• Current installed nuclear capacity (Jan 2025): 8,180 MW from 24 reactors [4].
• Capacity under construction: 6,800 MW / 8 units [4].
• 2031-32 target: 22,480 MW [4].
• Net-zero target year: 2070 [1].
• Designing agency for SMRs: BARC, not NPCIL [1].
• Atomic Energy — Union List Entry 6 (Schedule VII).
• DAE reports directly to Prime Minister (no Cabinet Minister of State for AE alone).

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III: Energy security; Infrastructure; Science & Tech indigenisation; Environment (climate commitments).
• GS-II: Government policies (SHANTI Act), Centre-State (siting), International treaties (NSG, IAEA safeguards).
• Question stems: 1. "Evaluate the role of the Nuclear Energy Mission and SHANTI Act, 2025 in achieving India's net-zero 2070 commitment." 2. "Small Modular Reactors are a 'game-changer' for India's decarbonisation pathway. Critically examine." 3. "Discuss how privatisation of the nuclear sector reconciles with strategic, safety and liability concerns."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Atomic Energy Act, 1962 — parent statute being amended.
• Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 — supplier liability debate.
• India's 3-stage nuclear programme (Bhabha plan) — thorium endgame.
• NSG & IAEA Additional Protocol — international safeguards regime.
• Net-Zero 2070 / Panchamrit pledges (COP-26) — climate context.
• Green Hydrogen Mission — HTGR linkage.
• PM-Surya Ghar / Renewable Energy mix — comparative base-load argument.
• Kudankulam, Jaitapur, Gorakhpur Haryana projects — site-specific facts.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• DAE ≠ MNRE: Nuclear is under DAE (PMO), not Ministry of New & Renewable Energy.
• SMR designer is BARC, not NPCIL (NPCIL operates plants).
• 100 GWe is by 2047, not 2030 or 2070; net-zero target is 2070.
• BSMR = 220 MWe, while the smaller SMR variant is 55 MWe, and HTGR is 5 MWth (thermal, not electric) — easy mix-up.
• SHANTI is an Act of 2025/26, not a scheme; do not confuse with the unrelated "Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar" awards.