Lok Sabha Question No. 5984 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-04-01
Subject: Development in Nuclear Energy
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Dr. M P Abdussamad Samadani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-5984 ANSWERED ON  01/04/2026

## DEVELOPMENT IN NUCLEAR ENERGY

## 5984.  DR. M P ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-

- (a) the  manner  in  which  the  Government  ensuring  that  nuclear  energy  contributes significantly to country's clean energy goals;
- (b) the  details  of  the  initiatives  put  in  place  to  promote  research  and  development  in nuclear energy and related technologies;
- (c) the  details  of  the  programmes  exist  to  train  skilled  manpower  for  nuclear  energy plants and research centers; and
- (d) the quantum of country's electricity currently comes from nuclear energy along with the target set for the next decade?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Government has announced Nuclear Energy Mission (NEM), outlined in the Union Budget 2025-26, with aim to achieve the nuclear power generation capacity of 100 GWe by 2047 to increase the share of nuclear energy as reliable base load energy in India's energy mix and achieve goal of net carbon emission by 2070.  To enable a wider participation of both public and private sectors in this effort, the Government has enacted the SHANTI Act.

A two-pronged strategy is being adopted to accelerate nuclear capacity addition;

- (i) Deployment of large reactors such as 700 MWe indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water  Reactors  (PHWRs)  and  large  capacity  imported  advanced  reactor designs at green field sites for rapid expansion; and
- (ii) Development and deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) such as 220 MWe  Bharat  Small  Modular  Reactor  (BSMR-200),  and  55  MWe  Small Modular Reactor (SMR-55) in brown field sites for repurposing retiring fossil fuel-based  power  plants,  captive  plants  for  energy  intensive  industries,  and off-grid applications for remote locations.

Additionally, up to 5 MWth High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (HTGCR) is also being  designed  and  developed.    The  reactor  heat  can  be  utilized  for  hydrogen generation  by  coupling  with  suitable  thermos-chemical  processes  for  utilizing  for process  industry  and  in  transport  industries.    This  can  help  in  decarbonization  of process and transport sector.

Further, India is pursuing the Three Stage Nuclear Power Programme with the aim of utilizing  its  vast  thorium  reserves  for  long  term  nuclear  energy  generation  in  a sustainable manner.

These nuclear energy programmes can gradually reduce India's dependency on fossil fuel and contributes to clean energy goals.

- (b) Under the Nuclear Energy Mission announced in the Union Budget 2025-26, a total budgetary  provision  of  Rs.20,000  Crores  have  been  made  for  the  research  and development, and deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).  This allocation is aimed at supporting India's objective of developing and operationalizing at least five indigenously  designed  SMRs  by  year  2033.    Department  of  Atomic  Energy  (DAE) has  undertaken  design  and  development  works  on  SMRs  namely  220  MWe  Bharat Small  Modular  Reactor  (BSMR-200),  55  MWe  Small  Modular  Reactor  (SMR-55), and  up  to  5  MWth  High  Temperature  Gas  Cooled  Reactor  (HTGCR)  meant  for hydrogen production.

DAE  is  planning  to  engages  Indian  industries  through  knowledge  sharing  and handholding  for  new  technology  developments  for  these  SMRs,  thus  developing nuclear vendors for self-reliance in the field of nuclear technology encouraging R&D ecosystem in private sector.  The SHANTI Act, 2025 envisages participation of public and  private  entities  in  the  filed  of  nuclear  energy  including  R&D  in  the  field  of nuclear energy and related technologies.

DAE has also established four Atal Incubation Centres which focuses on technology development  through  collaboration  with  start-ups  and  Micro,  Small  and  Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).  These centres support both DAE developed technologies and the  co-development  and  enhancement  of  innovative  ideas  originating  from  industry and  start-ups  to  foster  the  R&D  ecosystem  for  indigenous  technology  development and innovation for a self-reliant India.

Additionally, The Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS) is an advisory body and an extramural funding agency of the DAE which provides funds to researcher's academic  institutes  /  universities  to  carry  out  research  in  line  with  mandate  of  the DAE.

- (c) Human  resource  development  forms  a  cornerstone  of  strategy for indigenous technological development and innovation.  DAE has established robust programme to  create  a  highly  skilled  workforce  for  nuclear  science,  technology,  and  radiation safety.  The Orientation Course for Engineering Graduates and Science Postgraduates (OCES),  conducted  annually  through  the  Bhabha  Atomic  Energy  Research  Centre (BARC) Training School, a Constituent Unit of DAE, provides one year of intensive training to young  engineers and science postgraduates, who  are  subsequently absorbed  into  various  units  of  DAE.    Specialized  training  initiatives  such  as  the Radiological  Safety  and  Environmental  Science  (RSES)  programme  address  the national need for technocrats and scientists in radiological protection and environmental safety.   DAE Graduate Fellowship Scheme (DGFS) enables selected candidates to pursue M.Tech programmes at premier academic institutions, followed by  structured  training  in  nuclear  science  and  technology,  thereby  strengthening  the human resources.  Youths having bachelor degree in science / diploma in engineering and trade certificates in ITIs are recruited as trainees and imparted two-year training in the field of nuclear science and technology. Subsequently on successful completion of training, these youths are absorbed in the DAE.
- (d) In 2024-25, nuclear power plants generated 56,681 Million Units of electricity.  The present  nuclear  power  capacity  of  8780  MW  (excluding  RAPS-1)  is  expected  to increase  to  22,380  MW  by  2031-32  on  progressive  completion  of  projects  under implementation.  Thus over the next decade nuclear power generation is expected to increase three-fold.

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