PARLIAMENT QUESTION: PROGRESS UNDER NUCLEAR ENERGY MISSION

1. At a Glance

• Nuclear Energy Mission (NEM), launched via Union Budget 2025–26, targets 100 GWe nuclear capacity by 2047 to support Viksit Bharat and net-zero by 2070 [1].
• Mission also mandates ≥5 indigenous Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) operational by 2033 [1].
• Backed by a new standalone law — the SHANTI Act, 2025 — that restructures India's nuclear legal architecture and opens the door to private participation [1][2].
• High-yield UPSC topic: bridges GS-III (energy security, S&T) with GS-II (legislation/governance).

2. Why in the News

• PIB (Department of Atomic Energy) issued a Parliament Question reply dated 23 Jul 2026 detailing progress on NEM — SMR design status, BARC's reactor portfolio, and the enacted SHANTI Act [1].

3. Background & Evolution

• 2025–26 Union Budget: NEM announced with ₹20,000 crore allocation (announcement-level, per budget speech) for SMR R&D, aiming for 100 GW by 2047 [1].
• BARC tasked with design/development of three indigenous SMR variants under the mission [1].
• 15 Dec 2025: SHANTI Bill, 2025 introduced in Parliament by MoS (S&T) Dr Jitendra Singh [2].
• 17 Dec 2025: Passed by Lok Sabha; 18 Dec 2025: passed by Rajya Sabha [2].
• 20 Dec 2025: Presidential assent granted — SHANTI Act, 2025 enacted [2].
• Predecessor framework: Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, which SHANTI Act consolidates/modernises [2].

4. Core Static Facts

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

• Scientific/Technological: Three distinct BARC-designed reactor lines (BSMR-200, SMR-55, HTGCR) reflect diversification — power generation vs. process-heat/hydrogen applications [1].
• Legal/Constitutional: SHANTI Act creates a unified statutory regime replacing two separate 1962/2010 laws, altering liability and regulatory structure for nuclear operations [2].
• Economic: 100 GWe target implies massive capital mobilisation and is explicitly tied to opening the sector for private/non-DAE participation (per SHANTI Act's liberalisation intent) [2].
• Environmental: HTGCR's hydrogen-production role links nuclear energy policy to India's green hydrogen and decarbonisation goals [1].
• Governance/Administrative: Shift from DAE-monopoly public-sector nuclear generation toward a regulated private-entry model signals a structural governance change [2].

6. Recent Developments (last 12–18 months)

• Union Budget 2025–26: NEM formally announced.
• 15–20 Dec 2025: SHANTI Bill introduced, passed by both Houses, and given presidential assent as SHANTI Act, 2025 [2].
• 23 Jul 2026: DAE's Parliament reply confirms in-principle design/administrative approvals for BSMR-200, SMR-55, and HTGCR [1].

7. Prelims Hooks

• NEM was announced in the Union Budget 2025–26 [1].
• NEM's overarching target: 100 GWe nuclear capacity by 2047 [1].
• Net-zero carbon emissions target year referenced: 2070 [1].
• SMR operationalisation target: at least 5 indigenous SMRs by 2033 [1].
• Nodal design agency for SMRs: BARC, not NPCIL [1].
• BSMR-200 = Bharat Small Modular Reactor, capacity 220 MWe [1].
• SMR-55 capacity: 55 MWe [1].
• HTGCR = High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor, capacity up to 5 MWth, purpose: hydrogen production [1].
• Enabling legislation: SHANTI Act, 2025 [1][2].
• SHANTI = Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India [2].
• SHANTI Bill introduced by Dr Jitendra Singh, MoS (Science & Technology) on 15 Dec 2025 [2].
• Passed by Lok Sabha: 17 Dec 2025; Rajya Sabha: 18 Dec 2025 [2].
• Presidential assent to SHANTI Act: 20 Dec 2025 by President Droupadi Murmu [2].
• SHANTI Act consolidates the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 [2].
• Implementing department for NEM: Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) [1].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III: Science & Technology — indigenization of technology; Infrastructure — Energy.
• GS-II: Government policies/interventions; statutory bodies (regulatory board under SHANTI Act).
• Possible question stems: 1. "Discuss the significance of the Nuclear Energy Mission in achieving India's 2047 energy and 2070 net-zero targets. Examine the role of indigenous SMRs in this strategy." (GS-III) 2. "Critically evaluate the SHANTI Act, 2025 as a legal instrument for liberalising India's nuclear energy sector." (GS-II) 3. "How do Small Modular Reactors differ from conventional nuclear plants, and what advantages do they offer for India's decarbonisation goals?" (GS-III)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 — being subsumed/reformed by SHANTI Act.
• Atomic Energy Act, 1962 — original statutory basis for nuclear sector.
• International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) — India's fusion energy participation.
• National Green Hydrogen Mission — links to HTGCR's hydrogen-production role.
• India's Panchamrit/NDC commitments (COP26) — source of the 2070 net-zero target.
• NPCIL (Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd.) — existing PSU nuclear operator, contrast with new private-entry model.
• Small Modular Reactors globally (IAEA classification) — comparative technology context.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Confusing BARC (design/R&D agency) with NPCIL (operational PSU) as the nodal body for SMR design.
• Mixing up the 100 GWe (2047) overall target with the 5 SMRs (2033) sub-target — these are distinct milestones.
• Assuming SHANTI Act replaces the 1962/2010 Acts outright — it consolidates/modernises them into one framework, not a simple repeal.
• Misremembering the enactment year — Bill introduced Dec 2025, but NEM itself was announced in the 2025–26 Budget (earlier).
• Confusing HTGCR's output metric — it is measured in MWth (thermal), not MWe (electric), reflecting its non-power (hydrogen) application.