Lok Sabha Question No. 497 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Application of Atomic Energy in Various Sectors
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Shri Rajeev Rai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 497 ANSWERED ON 23/07/2025

## APPLICATION OF ATOMIC ENERGY IN VARIOUS SECTORS

## 497.  SHRI RAJEEV RAI

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether it is a fact the application of atomic energy has been considered beneficial to multiple sectors of our economy being cost-effective, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  there  has  been  an  increase  in  agricultural  production  due  to  use  of  atomic energy in the field of agriculture; if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the extent to which the atomic energy is being used in food conservation and whether any food conservation centre based on the use of atomic energy has been established in the State of Uttar Pradesh, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  expand  the  use  of  atomic  energy  in agricultural  production  and  food  conservation  in  the  country  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) Yes, atomic energy has been considered beneficial in the sector of Agriculture, Food Preservation, Defence & Security, Healthcare, Water Treatment etc., besides meeting the  energy  demand  of  the  nation.  Major  contributions  of  atomic  energy  in  various fields are mentioned below:

Nuclear Agriculture:

Radiation induced mutagenesis and cross breeding have enabled development of 71 new  crop  varieties  including  rice,  pulses,  oilseeds,  jute,  sorghum,  wheat  etc.  for commercial  cultivation.    These  varieties  developed  by  Bhabha  Atomic  Research Centre  (BARC)  a  constituent  Unit  of  Department  of  Atomic  Energy  (DAE)  have attributes  like  high-yield,  early  maturity,  biotic  &  abiotic  stress-tolerant,  climate resilience  etc.    These  varieties  are  being  cultivated  across  the  country,  providing economic benefits to the farmer community.

The Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT), an industrial unit of DAE produces and supplies Co-60 based sealed radiation sources for radiation processing of food and agricultural products.

## Food Preservation:

Radiation processing has been effectively used to extend the shelf life of agricultural produce,  fish  and  spices.    The  shelf-life  extension  of  mangoes  up  to  35  days  has enabled cost  effective  export  of  mangoes  by  sea  route.    The  shelf-life  extension  of onion & potatoes up to 7.5 months and 8 months respectively reduces the spoilage and economically beneficial to the farmers. The radiation processing of various food items is also approved by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT) a constituent Unit of DAE has also developed 10 MeV, 10 kW food irradiation linac useful for setting up food irradiation  facilities  within  the  country.  Technology  of  the  food  irradiation  linac  is available to the Indian industries and institutes.

Sheetal Vahak Yantra -'SHIVAY' Technology' has been developed for transportation of fruits and vegetables under combination of controlled Temperature, Humidity  and  inert  atmosphere  to  maintain  freshness  during  transportation.  The technology  is  patented  at  India  and  China.  The  technology  uses  liquid  nitrogen  for refrigeration source. Therefore, it is economic, 100% eco-friendly with no consumption of diesel or electricity for cooling. The technology has been transferred to  M/s  Tata  Motors,  Pune  under  incubation  mode  and  to  M/s  Furmech,  Indore  for development of standalone liquid nitrogen based refrigerated containers.

'MATSYA' system, which is derived from 'SHIVAY' technology is developed for transportation of fisheries. The system is installed on Sagar Harita, fishing vessel of Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), Kochi for trials of storage of fresh catch of fish in controlled temperature, controlled humidity and inert atmosphere for freshness.

## Defence & Security:

BARC  has  indigenously  developed  a  spin-off  technology  of  lightweight  and  cost effective Bhabha Kavach, a bullet-proof jacket qualified for threat level III+ [Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Level 5 protection], now in use by Border Security Force (BSF),  Central  Reserve  Police  Force  (CRPF),  Central  Industrial  Security  Force (CISF),  Indo-Tibetan  Border  Police  (ITBP),  and  Indian  Army.  The  technology  has been successfully transferred to Indian companies for commercialisation.  Indigenous Cargo  Container  Scanner  system  has  been  successfully  designed,  developed  & demonstrated.  This  import  substitute  technology  is  available  for  field  trials  and subsequent deployment.

## Healthcare:

In BARC Radio isotopes for health care are produced either through research reactors or  separation  of  useful  isotopes  from  processing  of  spent  nuclear  fuel.    BARC  has indigenously developed import substitute & cost-effective Ruthenium-106 (Ru-106) eye  plaques  for  treatment  of  eye  cancer.  These  plaques  are  produced  from  Ru-106 extracted from nuclear waste.  Other useful radio-isotopes extracted from the nuclear waste is Strontium-90 (Sr-90) and Caesium-137 (Cs-137) for production of Yttrium90 (Y-90) for cancer treatment and Cs glass pencil for blood irradiator. BARC also produces several radioisotopes like Iodine-125 (I-125), Iodine-131 (I-131), Lutetium177  (Lu-177),  and  Samarium  (Sm-153),  for  radio-pharmaceuticals  and  supplies  to various hospitals through BRIT for cancer diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Radio-isotope Production: The indigenous production of Strontium-89 (Sr-89) is an important societal need  and a valuable import substitution; it is  a pure  beta emitter with a half-life of 50.5  days and used for palliative care of bone metastatic cancer. Production of Sr-89 with high specific activity at Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR), Kalpakkam  was  successfully  demonstrated.    The  product  satisfied  all  the  Quality Control  Parameters  as  per  the  US,  European  and  International  Pharmacopeia.  Biodistribution study has been completed. This technology ensures increased availability and complete import substitution.

The radioisotopes produced at Medical Cyclotron Facility (MCF) are used for cancer diagnostics and therapy. The radioisotopes/radiopharmaceuticals, produced in collaboration with BRIT, are supplied to various hospitals/Nuclear Medicine Centres, on regular basis, which have reduced the cost of treatment of common man.

Linac for irradiation: RRCAT has indigenously developed 10 MeV industrial electron linacs, process technology and electron beam radiation processing facility for terminal sterilization of medical device. First of its kind facility in the country, this is operating in  commercial  mode at Indore  with  Atomic  Energy  Regulatory  Board  (AERB)  and Food  and  Drug  Administration  (FDA)  licenses  and  is  regularly  providing  electron beam processing services for terminal sterilization of regulated medical devices. Since starting operations in year 2021, the facility has provided electron beam services for sterilization  of  more  than  1  Crore  medical  devices  for  various  medical  devices industries.

BRIT  remains  the  major  producer  and  supplier  of  diagnostic  and  therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals for early diagnosis of diseases and for cancer treatment.

## Water Treatment:

Another spin-off technology of radiation-grafted cotton cloth-based matrix has been developed  for  effective  treatment  of  textile/  dye  effluents  for  removal  of  dye.  The filtered  water  can  be  re-used  for  industrial  purposes.  This  innovation  offers  a  lowcost, efficient solution for environmental protection. The technology is transferred to private entrepreneur for commercialisation.

## Nuclear Power:

Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) generated about 56681 Million Units (MUs) of clean electricity,  contributing  to  about  3% of the total electricity generated in the country and  saved  about  49  Million  Tons  of  CO2(e)  emissions  into  the  environment.  The average tariff of electricity from nuclear power plants during the year 2024-25 was Rs 3.83 per unit.

## Other such significant contributions in various fields:

U-233  fuelled  Kalpakkam  Mini  Reactor  (KAMINI)  is  continuing  its  successful operation for neutron radiography of critical components for the nuclear and strategic sectors,  neutron  shielding  and  neutron  activation  of  materials.  This  facility  is  also utilized for conducting neutron beam experiments. The pyro devices used in the space programme were routinely tested in KAMINI.

BRIT manufactures and supplies Iridium-192 (Ir-192) radiography exposure devices to industry and provides isotope application services to the petrochemical and other industries for troubleshooting the issues encountered.

- (b) Yes,  Nuclear  radiation  is  used  to  develop  improved  crop  varieties  suitable  for different agro-ecologies of the country. These varieties exhibit higher yield compared to  existing  check  varieties.  These  varieties  also  have  better  nutritional  quality  or resistance  to  biotic  and  abiotic  stresses.  Farmers  in  several  states  have  experienced enhanced crop productivity by cultivating these improved varieties which in turn is helpful  for  improving  farm  income.  Crop  losses  due  to  soil  borne  diseases  can  be minimised by using gamma ray-induced Trichoderma mutant strain.
- (c) The radiation technology for food preservation is being commercially used across the country.  Today there are 28 food irradiation facilities operational in the country, out of which 22 are owned by the private players.

In  Uttar  Pradesh,  a  radiation  facility,  M/s.  Solas  Industries  Private  Limited,  Kosi Kalan, Mathura is operational for food preservation since 2021. One more irradiation facility  is  under  construction  in  Lucknow  by  M/s.  Q-Line  Health  Care  Private Limited.

BRIT  helps Private/State Government  Sectors  in setting up gamma  radiation processing facilities for food irradiation & medical devices sterilization by providing necessary  technical  inputs  &  supplying  Co-60  sources.  Till  date,  39  such  facilities have been commissioned in the country. Two such facilities have been commissioned in  private  sector  in  the  state  of  Uttar  Pradesh  and  they  are  providing  radiation processing services on demand basis.

- (d) Yes, DAE has been involved in the use of radiations and radioisotopes in agricultural production  through  continuous  R&D  programmes.  These  programmes  are  being conducted in collaboration with various Agricultural Universities in different states and research institutes of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Further, department has planned many more MoUs with existing and new state agricultural universities and other research organizations towards application of atomic energy in agriculture for societal benefit.

DAE  helps Private/State Government  Sectors in setting up gamma  radiation processing facilities for food irradiation & medical devices sterilization by providing necessary technical inputs & supplying Co-60 sources