Lok Sabha Question No. 786 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-04
Subject: Small Modular Reactors for Clean and Low-Carbon Energy
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Shri Ganesh Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-786 ANSWERED ON   04.02.2026

## SMALL MODULAR REACTORS FOR CLEAN AND LOW-CARBON ENERGY

## 786.     SHRI GANESH SINGH

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  proposing  to  include  Small  Modular  Reactors  (SMRs)  in country's long-term energy policy in view of the goals of clean and low-carbon energy and if so, the details of initiatives taken so far in this direction;
- (b) whether the Government is studying the possibility of setting up a first-of-its kind SMR pilot  projects  in  industrial  and  energy-prospective  areas  like  Madhya  Pradesh  or  Satna considering the passive safety, modular design and potential for industrial applications of SMRs and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  details  of  the  action  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  for  adopting  standardised regulatory framework, techno-economic assessment, safeguards by design with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and innovative financial mechanisms for safe and timely development of SMRs?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) BARC has taken-up design, development and establishment of  Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) suitable for deployment as captive power plants for the energy intensive sectors, repurposing of retiring fossil fuel based power plants, and deployment in remote location with  no  grid  connectivity.  Under  the  Nuclear  Energy  Mission,  funds  have  also  been allocated for Research & Development of indigenous SMRs by 2033.

The Department has recently initiated design and development of SMRs namely,

1. 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200). Lead unit proposed at Tarapur Atomic Power station site, Maharashtra.
2. 55 MWe Small Modular Reactor (SMR-55). Lead unit proposed to be constructed at Tarapur.

Additionally, up to 5 MWth high temperature gas cooled reactor has also been planned for hydrogen generation. This reactor is proposed to be constructed at BARC Vizag, Andhra Pradesh.

- (b) The matter is presently not under consideration within this Department.
- (c) Government  of  India  has  provisioned  funds  towards  research,  design,  development  and deployment of SMRs under the Nuclear Energy Mission.  In view of this Bhabha Atomic Research  Centre  has  undertaken  design  and  development  of  SMRs  with  main  focus  on construction of lead units at DAE site for technology demonstration. The tentative cost of demonstration  unit  of  BSMR-200  is  around  27  Cr/  MWe.    Subsequent  to  successful demonstration  of  technology,  the  cost  of  the  reactor  is  likely  to  reduce  on  account  of standardisation of design and economy of scale.

Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has been constituted by a statutory order (S.O. 4772)  under  the  provisions  of  Section  27  of  the  Atomic  Energy  Act,  1962  to  enforce certain safety and regulatory provisions of the Act under Section 16, 17 and 18. AERB is responsible for safety regulation of Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs), which is done through its  regulatory  processes  of  licensing  /  consenting,  safety  review  and  periodic  regulatory inspections. AERB is empowered to lay down safety codes, standards and guides as well as  enforce  safety  requirements.  AERB  has  established  requirements  for  nuclear  & radiation  safety  of  NPPs  which  takes  into  account  the  safety  standards  of  International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and international best practices.

Different  types  /  designs  of  Nuclear  Power  Plants  (NPPs)  in  India  are  designed, constructed,  commissioned  &  operated  complying  with  the  regulatory  requirements  of AERB. AERB carries out safety review of NPPs during their consenting stages, viz. siting, construction,  commissioning,  operation  and  decommissioning.  After  satisfactory  review during siting, construction and commissioning stages, AERB issues license for operation to  NPP,  valid  for  a  period  of  up  to  five  years.  During  the  license  period,  safety performance of an operating NPP is monitored in compliance with regulatory requirements, through safety reviews and regulatory inspections. Further, during operation, all plants are required to undergo a comprehensive Periodic Safety Review (PSR), every ten  years,  as  per  the  regulatory  requirements.  During  PSR,  the  safety  of  the  plant  is assessed considering cumulative effects of ageing, plant modifications, operating experience  as  well  as  comparison  with  the  current  safety  requirements  /  practices,  and necessary safety upgrades are identified and implemented.

AERB safety and regulatory requirements for licensing of NPPs are mostly technology neutral. In light of the evolving developments in the field of SMRs, AERB has conducted review  of  its  existing  regulatory  requirements  and  concluded  that  the  same  regulatory framework can generally  be applied for safety  regulation  of  advanced  reactors  such  as SMRs, except a few technology specific aspects for which review may be required when details of proposed sites and design of specific SMR is submitted to AERB. AERB also participates in various international forums to keep itself abreast about the developments in regulation of SMRs and suitably adopt them when required.

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