PARLIAMENT QUESTION: GENERATION OF NUCLEAR ENERGY

India's Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat, targeting 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047, represents a transformative leap in the country's energy security strategy. Announced by the Union Government and detailed by Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh in the Lok Sabha, this mission aligns with India's commitment under the Paris Agreement to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070 and reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% by 2030 from 2005 levels. Nuclear power, as a baseload, low-carbon energy source, is critical to decarbonizing the electricity sector while meeting the rising demand projected to reach over 3,000 TWh by 2047. The historical context traces back to the vision of Dr. Homi J. Bhabha, who formulated India's three-stage nuclear power programme in the 1950s, leveraging the country's modest uranium but vast thorium reserves — the world's largest. The Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) provide the legal and regulatory framework, while the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, addresses operator liability, a key factor in foreign collaboration. Key stakeholders include the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI), and the AERB. International partners like Russia (Rosatom for Kudankulam), France (EDF for Jaitapur), and the USA (Westinghouse for Kovvada/Mithi Virdi) are crucial for technology transfer and financing. The 2008 NSG waiver and subsequent civil nuclear agreements with over a dozen countries ended decades of technological isolation, enabling projects like KKNPP Units 3–6 (4×1000 MW VVER-1000 reactors) with Russian cooperation, expected by 2027–2030. Indigenous 700 MW Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) — at Rawatbhata (RAPP-8, 2026), Gorakhpur (GHAVP 1&2), Kaiga (5&6, 2031–32), Chutka, Mahi Banswara, and Bhimpur — demonstrate maturity in domestic reactor design, standardization, and construction capability. The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR, 500 MW) at Kalpakkam, which attained criticality on April 6, 2026, marks the dawn of Stage II, paving the way for thorium utilization in Stage III. The significance for India is multi-dimensional. Economically, nuclear power enhances energy independence, reduces fossil fuel imports (saving billions in foreign exchange), and supports industrial growth with reliable power. Politically, it strengthens strategic partnerships and positions India as a responsible nuclear power. Socially, addressing local apprehensions — on safety, rehabilitation, and livelihoods (fishing, horticulture) — through multipronged public awareness programmes is essential for social license. Constitutionally, electricity is a Concurrent Subject (Entry 38, List III, Seventh Schedule), enabling Centre-State coordination. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, govern environmental clearances. The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, applies to land acquisition. Broader themes include climate governance, technology self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat), and global non-proliferation architecture. Future implications are profound: successful deployment of 100 GW by 2047 would make nuclear energy contribute ~25% of electricity, up from ~3% today. The progression to metal-fueled fast reactors and thorium-based Advanced Heavy Water Reactors (AHWRs) will close the fuel cycle. However, challenges remain: capital intensity, long gestation (10–12 years), waste management, public perception, and geopolitical risks in fuel supply. The mission's success hinges on streamlined regulatory processes, innovative financing, robust supply chains, and sustained political will — making it a defining test of India's scientific and governance capacity in the Amrit Kaal.