Lok Sabha Question No. 4480 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-20
Subject: R&D of Small Modular Reactors
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Shri Maddila Gurumoorthy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 4480 ANSWERED ON 20/08/2025

## R&D OF SMALL MODULAR REACTORS

## 4480. SHRI MADDILA GURUMOORTHY

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-

- (a) the current status of the Rs.20,000 crore Nuclear Energy Mission announced during the Budget 2025-26 for the Research and Development (R&D) of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs);
- (b)  whether  any  public  or  private  institutions  in  Andhra  Pradesh  have  been  selected  to participate in SMR research or proposed to host such facilities and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  involve  academic  or  scientific  institutions  in Tirupati district such as those under SVIMS or IISER for R&D collaboration on nuclear technology and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  the details of roadmap for ensuring equitable regional participation in SMR development; and
- (e)  whether the Government will consider Andhra Pradesh as a pilot State for the operationalisation of indigenously developed SMRs by 2033 and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a) During the Budget 2025 announcement the government had launched a Nuclear Energy Mission  with  an  outlay  of  ₹20,000  crore  for  research  and  development  of  Small Modular  Reactors  (SMRs).  Currently,  Bhabha  Atomic  Research  Centre  (BARC)  a constituent unit of DAE, is developing following Small Modular Reactors:
- i.   Bharat Small Modular Reactors (BSMR-200) for repurposing of retiring thermal power  plants  &  captive  power  plants  for  energy  intensive  industry  such  as aluminium, steel, metal etc.
- ii.  Small Modular Reactors (SMR-55) for providing energy for remote as well as off grid location with objective to decarbonise the energy sector.

- iii.    High  Temperature  Gas  Cooled  Reactor  of  capacity  5  MWth  for  hydrogen generation for decarbonisation of transport sector & process industries. Lead units of these reactors are planned to be set up at DAE sites. The subsequent units are to be located at the sites of the end-user industry in case of captive power  plants  and  at  brownfield  sites  of  retiring  thermal  power  plants.  The Department  has  obtained  in-principle  approval  for  construction  of  these reactors.
2. (b) (c) & (d) There are plans to establish some of the newly proposed SMR-type reactors at BARC Vizag, Andhra Pradesh. Sites for Nuclear Power Plants including SMRs are finalized based on various criteria decided by the Site Selection Committee. Prospective vendors and public or private institutions will be selected on the basis of appropriate bidding process, for execution of equipment delivery, construction, erection and commissioning activities pertaining to these reactors.
3. (e) BARC has developed a new campus at Vizag, Andhra Pradesh. This new campus will be housing several research reactors and R&D facilities in addition to some of the new SMRs being developed by the Department.

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