PARLIAMENT QUESTION: NUCLEAR ENERGY MISSION & BHARAT SMALL MODULAR REACTORS

India's ambitious Nuclear Energy Mission, announced in the Union Budget 2025-26, marks a pivotal shift in the country's clean energy strategy, allocating Rs 20,000 crore to develop five indigenous Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) by 2033. This initiative builds upon India's six-decade nuclear journey that began with the Atomic Energy Act, 1948, and the establishment of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in 1954 under the direct charge of the Prime Minister — a unique governance structure reflecting nuclear energy's strategic importance. The mission aligns with India's updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, targeting 50% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030, and the long-term goal of net-zero by 2070 announced at COP26. The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), as the premier R&D institution under DAE, spearheads the design of three distinct SMR variants: the 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200), the 55 MWe SMR-55 — both Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) — and the 5 MWth High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (HTGCR) for hydrogen production via the copper-chlorine thermochemical cycle. This diversification addresses both baseload power and industrial decarbonisation, particularly for hard-to-abate sectors like steel and fertilizers. The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), chaired by the Secretary, DAE, has approved Tarapur, Maharashtra — India's oldest nuclear power station site — for the first two reactors, while BARC Vizag is proposed for HTGCR with siting consent and Terms of Reference (ToR) for environmental clearance received from MoEF&CC. A transformative legislative enabler is the SHANTI Act 2025 (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Act), which proposes amendments to the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, to allow participation of government-owned and private entities in nuclear power generation for peaceful purposes. This is significant because Article 297 of the Constitution vests ownership of uranium and thorium in the Union, and the Atomic Energy Act has historically restricted nuclear operations to government entities. The SHANTI Act, once notified, could unlock private capital and innovation, targeting 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047 — a 15-fold increase from the current ~8 GW — as part of the 'Viksit Bharat' vision. Indigenisation is central: the Advanced Purified Reactor Vessel Alloy (ApuRVA) for reactor pressure vessels of BSMR-200 and SMR-55 has been developed with Indian industry, leveraging expertise from the 220 MWe and 700 MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) fleet. Critical components like reactivity control drive mechanisms are already realised domestically. With 60-72 months required for establishment post-sanction, the mission demonstrates India's growing technological maturity in nuclear manufacturing, reducing import dependence and positioning India as a potential SMR exporter to the Global South. Strategically, SMRs offer advantages: factory fabrication, modular construction, reduced footprint, enhanced passive safety, and suitability for remote or water-scarce regions. They complement India's three-stage nuclear programme — PHWRs (Stage 1), Fast Breeder Reactors (Stage 2), and Thorium-based reactors (Stage 3) — by providing near-term deployable clean energy. Internationally, this strengthens India's credentials in forums like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), while supporting initiatives like the International Solar Alliance's expansion into hybrid renewable-nuclear systems. The mission thus represents a convergence of energy security, climate action, technological self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat), and legislative reform — a template for high-tech public-private partnerships in strategic sectors.