PARLIAMENT QUESTION: ENHANCING NUCLEAR ENERGY

1. At a Glance

• India has set a 100 GW nuclear power capacity target by 2047, announced under the Nuclear Energy Mission in Union Budget 2025-26 [1].
• Strategy rests on a two-pronged approach: large indigenous/imported reactors at greenfield sites + Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) for brownfield sites (retiring fossil plants, captive industrial power, off-grid use) [1].
• Relevant for UPSC as it links energy security, Net Zero 2070 commitment, Viksit Bharat vision, and private-sector participation in a historically state-monopoly sector [1].
• Recently reinforced by a major legislative overhaul (SHANTI Act, 2025) — high-yield current-affairs + polity crossover topic.

2. Why in the News

• 30 July 2026: PIB press release "Parliament Question: Enhancing Nuclear Energy" reiterated the roadmap to 100 GW by 2047 in response to a Parliament question to the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) [1].
• Follows enactment of the SHANTI Act, 2025 (Winter Session 2025), which consolidated/replaced the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 [6].

3. Background & Evolution

• India's nuclear programme originated under Homi J. Bhabha, with the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 as the original governing statute [1][6].
• Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 (CLND Act) later governed operator/supplier liability, long cited as a deterrent to foreign private investment [6].
• Union Budget 2025-26 (Feb 2025): Finance Minister announced the Nuclear Energy Mission with ₹20,000 crore allocation for SMR R&D and deployment; target of at least 5 indigenously designed SMRs operational by 2033 [2][4].
• Winter Session 2025: Parliament enacted the SHANTI Act, 2025 (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India), repealing/consolidating the 1962 and 2010 Acts into a unified framework, opening the sector to private participation [6].
• 30 July 2026: Latest parliamentary reiteration of the 100 GW/2047 roadmap [1].

4. Core Static Facts

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic

• ₹20,000 crore Budget outlay signals fiscal commitment to indigenous SMR technology [2].
• Opening to private/JV models (46 GW of the 100 GW target) is expected to crowd in private capital previously deterred by liability risk [1][6].
• Repurposing retiring fossil plants for SMRs saves on transmission infrastructure and land acquisition costs [1].

Legal/Constitutional

• SHANTI Act, 2025 repeals/consolidates the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and CLND Act, 2010 — a rare full legislative overhaul of a Nehru-era statute [6].
• Introduces operator-recourse rights (contractual) against suppliers, addressing the "unlimited liability" concern that kept US/foreign majors (e.g., under Convention on Supplementary Compensation) away [6].
• Establishes the Nuclear Damage Claims Commission as a dedicated adjudicatory body [6].

Scientific/Technological

• Indigenous reactor designs (700 MWe PHWR, BSMR-200, SMR-55) reflect India's push for self-reliant reactor technology (Atmanirbhar Bharat in strategic sector) [1].
• SMRs enable modular, factory-fabricated, faster-deployment nuclear technology suited for captive industrial and off-grid use [1].

Environmental

• Nuclear positioned as "reliable, low-carbon base-load" energy, complementing intermittent renewables in India's energy mix [1].
• Directly tied to Net Zero by 2070 commitment (made at COP26, Glasgow) [1].

Geopolitical/Strategic

• Private-sector opening is partly aimed at enabling collaboration with foreign reactor vendors/technology partners, historically stalled by liability law [6].
• Energy security angle — reduces dependence on fossil fuel imports for base-load power.

Administrative/Governance

• A Task Force within DAE (members from DAE, AERB, NPCIL, NITI Aayog, Ministry of Law & Justice, MEA) was constituted to recommend amendments to the Atomic Energy Act, preceding the SHANTI Act [3].
• Capacity addition split between NPCIL (54 GW) and other PSEs/states/private players (46 GW) raises coordination and regulatory-oversight challenges [1].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• Feb 2025: Union Budget 2025-26 announces Nuclear Energy Mission with ₹20,000 crore outlay for SMRs [2][4].
• 2025 (through the year): DAE Task Force examines amendments to Atomic Energy Act and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act for private-sector entry [3].
• Winter Session 2025: Parliament enacts the SHANTI Act, 2025, consolidating the 1962 and 2010 Acts, creating the Nuclear Damage Claims Commission [6].
• 30 July 2026: DAE reiterates 100 GW-by-2047 roadmap and capacity break-up (54 GW NPCIL + 46 GW others) via Parliament Question response [1].

7. Prelims Hooks (high-density factual bullets)

• Nuclear Energy Mission target: 100 GW capacity by 2047 [1].
• Announced in Union Budget 2025-26, allocation of ₹20,000 crore for SMRs [2].
• Nodal department: Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), not Ministry of Power [1].
• At least 5 indigenous SMRs to be operational by 2033 [2].
• Indigenous large reactor type: 700 MWe PHWR [1].
• SMR designs: BSMR-200 (200 MWe) and SMR-55 (55 MWe) [1].
• NPCIL's own contribution to 2047 target: ~54 GW [1].
• Remaining ~46 GW to come from PSEs, State Govts, private sector, JVs [1].
• SHANTI Act, 2025 = Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India [6].
• SHANTI Act consolidates/repeals Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 [6].
• New body created: Nuclear Damage Claims Commission [6].
• Ultimate climate linkage: Net Zero by 2070 [1].
• SMRs are targeted for brownfield sites — repurposing retiring fossil fuel plants, captive industrial, off-grid [1].
• Large reactors (PHWR/imported) are for greenfield sites [1].
• Task Force on Atomic Energy Act amendments included DAE, AERB, NPCIL, NITI Aayog, MoLJ, MEA [3].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III: Infrastructure — Energy; Science & Technology — indigenization of technology; Environment — climate change mitigation, Net Zero.
• GS-II: Government policies and interventions; statutory bodies (Nuclear Damage Claims Commission).
• Possible question stems: 1. "India aims to achieve 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047. Discuss the strategy adopted and the legal/institutional reforms needed to enable private sector participation in this sector." (GS-III, 15 marks) 2. "Examine how the SHANTI Act, 2025 addresses the liability concerns that historically deterred foreign investment in India's nuclear power sector." (GS-II/III, 10 marks) 3. "Small Modular Reactors are being positioned as a game-changer for India's decarbonization strategy. Critically evaluate their potential and challenges." (GS-III, 15 marks)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 (background) — understand the liability regime SHANTI Act replaced.
• Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) — regulatory oversight body relevant to nuclear safety governance.
• India's Net Zero 2070 commitment (COP26) — the overarching climate target nuclear expansion serves.
• National Green Hydrogen Mission — parallel clean-energy mission for comparative Mains answers.
• Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and India's membership bid — geopolitical dimension of nuclear technology access.
• Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC) — international liability framework India is party to.
• Viksit Bharat @2047 vision — umbrella development narrative this mission is framed under.
• India-US 123 Agreement / Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal (2008) — historical foundation of India's civil nuclear opening.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Confusing Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) with the Ministry of Power as the nodal authority — DAE is correct [1].
• Mixing up BSMR-200 (200 MWe) with SMR-55 (55 MWe) — different indigenous SMR designs, not the same reactor [1].
• Assuming SHANTI Act merely amended the CLND Act, 2010 — it actually consolidated/repealed both the 1962 and 2010 Acts into a unified framework [6].
• Confusing the 54 GW (NPCIL) and 46 GW (others) split — total is 100 GW by 2047, not additive beyond that [1].
• Assuming all 100 GW comes from SMRs — SMRs are only one prong (brownfield); large PHWR/imported reactors at greenfield sites form the other, larger prong [1].