PARLIAMENT QUESTION: NUCLEAR ENERGY MISSION FOR VIKSIT BHARAT
I have sufficient facts. Writing the final study note now.
Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat — UPSC Study Note
1. At a Glance
- Nuclear Energy Mission (NEM), announced in Union Budget 2025–26, targets 100 GWe nuclear capacity by 2047 to support Viksit Bharat and net-zero by 2070 [S1].
- Aims to operationalise at least five indigenous Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) by 2033 [S1].
- Backed by the newly enacted SHANTI Act, 2025, which liberalises private participation in India's nuclear sector for the first time [S1][S3].
- Tests both static nuclear-policy knowledge (Atomic Energy Act, AERB) and dynamic 2025–26 legislative/budgetary developments — a classic GS-II/GS-III crossover topic.
2. Why in the News
- PIB Delhi issued a Parliament Question response dated 22 July 2026 on the status of the Nuclear Energy Mission, detailing SMR designs and the SHANTI Act framework [S1].
- The SHANTI Bill, 2025 was passed by Lok Sabha (17 Dec 2025) and Rajya Sabha (18 Dec 2025), and received Presidential assent on 21 December 2025 [S3][S5].
- A PIB workshop on "SHANTI Act, 2025: Enabling India's 100 GW Nuclear Power Roadmap through Public–Private Partnership" was subsequently held [S4].
3. Background & Evolution
- India's civil nuclear programme has historically been governed by the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, both public-sector-monopoly frameworks [S3].
- Union Budget 2025–26: Finance Minister announced the Nuclear Energy Mission with an outlay of ₹20,000 crore for SMR research, design, development and deployment [S6].
- December 2025: SHANTI Bill introduced in Lok Sabha (15 Dec 2025), passed by both Houses, and enacted as the SHANTI Act, 2025 — consolidating/replacing the 1962 and 2010 laws to allow private and foreign participation [S3][S5].
- 2026: BARC's SMR design work (BSMR-200, SMR-55, HTGCR) reported to Parliament, alongside continuing capacity roadmap disclosures [S1][S2].
4. Core Static Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Nodal Department | Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) [S1] |
| Mission | Nuclear Energy Mission (NEM), Union Budget 2025–26 [S1][S6] |
| Budget outlay | ₹20,000 crore for SMR R&D and deployment [S6] |
| Capacity target | 100 GWe nuclear power by 2047 [S1] |
| SMR target | ≥5 indigenous SMRs operational by 2033 [S1] |
| Current capacity (approx.) | ~8 GW [S6] |
| Enabling law | SHANTI Act, 2025 — replaces/consolidates Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 [S3] |
| Regulator | Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) — regulatory oversight over all nuclear facilities, public or private [S2] |
| Liability structure | Graded operator liability ₹100 crore to ₹3,000 crore based on facility type; government-backed cover up to 300 million SDR [S2] |
| SMR designs (BARC) | BSMR-200 (220 MWe PWR); SMR-55 (55 MWe PWR); HTGCR (up to 5 MWth, for hydrogen production) [S1] |
| Ministerial reply | Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Atomic Energy [S1] |
5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis
Economic - ₹20,000 crore Budget outlay signals a major capital push into indigenous nuclear technology manufacturing [S6]. - Opens a new private-investment avenue in a historically state-monopoly sector, potentially crowding in domestic and foreign capital [S3].
Scientific / Technological - Indigenous SMR designs (BSMR-200, SMR-55, HTGCR) reduce import dependence and target niche uses — grid power and hydrogen production via high-temperature process heat [S1]. - SMRs allow modular, faster-to-build reactors compared to large conventional plants, aiding scale-up toward the 2047 target [S1].
Legal / Constitutional - SHANTI Act, 2025 is a landmark statutory reform, replacing two long-standing laws (1962 Act, 2010 Liability Act) with a unified framework [S3]. - Grants the AERB a stronger, more clearly defined regulatory mandate applied on an entity- and technology-neutral basis [S2].
Governance / Administrative - Graded civil liability (₹100–3,000 crore) recalibrates risk allocation between operators and the state, intended to attract private/foreign entrants while retaining safety accountability [S2]. - DAE remains nodal department; implementation execution likely to be split between DAE/NPCIL and new private entrants under AERB oversight [S1][S2].
Environmental - Nuclear scale-up is positioned as a decarbonisation lever, aligned with India's net-zero-by-2070 commitment [S1].
6. Recent Developments (last 12–18 months)
- Feb 2025: Union Budget 2025–26 announces Nuclear Energy Mission with ₹20,000 crore outlay [S6].
- 15 Dec 2025: SHANTI Bill, 2025 introduced in Lok Sabha [S5].
- 17–18 Dec 2025: Passed by Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha respectively [S5].
- 21 Dec 2025: Presidential assent granted, SHANTI Act, 2025 enacted [S3][S5].
- 2026: PIB workshop held on SHANTI Act implementation and public-private partnership roadmap for 100 GW target [S4].
- 22 Jul 2026: Parliament informed via PIB press release on BARC's SMR design progress and mission status [S1].
7. Prelims Hooks
- Nuclear Energy Mission announced in Union Budget 2025–26 with an outlay of ₹20,000 crore [S6].
- Target: 100 GWe nuclear capacity by 2047 [S1].
- Target: at least five indigenous SMRs operational by 2033 [S1].
- Nodal department: Department of Atomic Energy (not Ministry of Power) [S1].
- BSMR-200: 220 MWe pressurised water reactor designed by BARC [S1].
- SMR-55: 55 MWe reactor designed by BARC [S1].
- HTGCR: up to 5 MWth, designed for hydrogen production [S1].
- SHANTI Act, 2025 received Presidential assent on 21 December 2025 [S3][S5].
- SHANTI Act replaces the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 [S3].
- SHANTI Act allows private sector participation in setting up nuclear facilities under Central Government license [S2].
- Graded civil liability under SHANTI Act ranges from ₹100 crore to ₹3,000 crore depending on facility type [S2].
- AERB (Atomic Energy Regulatory Board) provides regulatory oversight, applied on an entity- and technology-neutral basis [S2].
- SHANTI Bill was passed by Lok Sabha on 17 December 2025 and Rajya Sabha on 18 December 2025 [S5].
- Parliamentary reply on NEM status given by Dr Jitendra Singh, MoS for Atomic Energy [S1].
- Net-zero carbon emissions target referenced alongside the mission: 2070 [S1].
8. Mains Relevance
- GS-III: Infrastructure — Energy; Science & Technology — indigenization of technology; Achievements of Indians in science.
- GS-II: Government policies and interventions; statutory, regulatory bodies (AERB).
- Plausible question stems: 1. "Discuss the significance of the Nuclear Energy Mission in achieving India's Viksit Bharat and net-zero goals. Examine the role of Small Modular Reactors in this strategy." (GS-III) 2. "Critically examine the SHANTI Act, 2025 as a legislative shift from public-monopoly to public-private participation in India's nuclear energy sector." (GS-II/GS-III) 3. "How does India's revised civil liability framework for nuclear damage balance investor confidence with public safety accountability?" (GS-II)
9. Related Topics to Study Next
- Atomic Energy Act, 1962 / Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 — the predecessor laws now replaced by SHANTI Act [S3].
- NPCIL (Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd) — existing public-sector nuclear operator, relevant to capacity roadmap.
- International nuclear liability regimes (CSC — Convention on Supplementary Compensation) — referenced via SDR-based liability cap [S2].
- India's Net Zero 2070 commitment — broader climate policy this mission feeds into [S1].
- National Green Hydrogen Mission — linked via HTGCR's hydrogen-production application [S1].
- AERB's regulatory reforms — statutory status and entity-neutral oversight model [S2].
- Make in India / Atmanirbhar Bharat in strategic sectors — indigenous SMR design as case study [S1].
10. Common Errors / Trap Areas
- Confusing the nodal department (DAE) with Ministry of Power or Ministry of New and Renewable Energy — nuclear remains under DAE [S1].
- Mixing up SMR capacities: BSMR-200 is 220 MWe (name suggests 200, actual capacity 220), SMR-55 is 55 MWe, HTGCR is MWth (thermal, not electric) [S1].
- Treating SHANTI Act as merely a liability law — it is a consolidated framework replacing both the 1962 Act and 2010 Liability Act, not an amendment to just one [S3].
- Confusing the 100 GWe by 2047 target with the SMR-specific five reactors by 2033 sub-target — these are distinct milestones [S1].
- Net-zero year confusion — India's national net-zero target is 2070, distinct from other countries' 2050 targets [S1].
11. Sources
- [S1] Parliament Question: Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2287710 — (tier: 1)
- [S2] Parliament Question: India's Nuclear Energy Sector — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2247971®=3&lang=2 — (tier: 1)
- [S3] Summary of the SHANTI Bill, 2025 — https://prsindia.org/files/bills_acts/bills_parliament/2025/Summary-SHANTI_Bill_2025.pdf — (tier: 1)
- [S4] PIB Workshop on SHANTI Act, 2025 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2253013®=3&lang=1 — (tier: 1)
- [S5] SHANTI Bill, 2025 (introduction/passage) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2206598®=3&lang=2 — (tier: 1)
- [S6] Nuclear Power in Union Budget 2025-26 (DAE) — https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2025/feb/doc202523495401.pdf — (tier: 1)