India charts roadmap to achieve 100 GW nuclear power capacity by 2047: Govt
The Nuclear Energy Mission envisages indigenous small modular reactors, expanded private participation and advanced safety measures to support clean energy and long-term energy security.
Minister of State for Atomic Energy and Space Dr Jitendra Singh
NEW DELHI: The Union government on Wednesday outlined a roadmap to expand the country’s nuclear power generation capacity to 100 GW by 2047 under the Nuclear Energy Mission (NEM), with a strong focus on indigenous small modular reactors (SMRs), private sector participation and enhanced nuclear safety.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Atomic Energy and Space Dr Jitendra Singh said the Nuclear Energy Mission, announced in the Union Budget 2025-26, aims to support the vision of Viksit Bharat while contributing to the country’s target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.
The mission also seeks to develop and operationalise at least five indigenous Small Modular Reactors by 2033.
The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is developing three indigenous reactor technologies under the programme: the 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200), the 55 MWe Small Modular Reactor (SMR-55), and a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor of up to 5 MW thermal capacity for hydrogen production.
According to the roadmap, India’s installed nuclear power capacity of 8.78 GW is expected to increase to about 22 GW by 2031-32 through the completion of projects currently under implementation. An additional 32 GW is planned through projects to be developed by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL), taking the country’s capacity to around 54 GW by 2047.
The remaining 46 GW is proposed to be developed by central and state public sector enterprises, state governments, private companies and joint ventures under different business models using a mix of reactor technologies.
The Parliament has enacted the SHANTI Act, 2025, to facilitate the implementation of the Nuclear Energy Mission and enable private sector participation in nuclear power generation and research and development.
For the BSMR-200 project, in-principle approval has been granted for engineering and construction, while administrative and financial proposals have been cleared by the Atomic Energy Commission. Tarapur in Maharashtra has been approved as the project site.
Similarly, the SMR-55 has received in-principle approval for engineering and construction, with Tarapur also selected as its location.
The high-temperature gas-cooled reactor is being designed as a nuclear heat source for hydrogen production using thermochemical processes such as the copper-chlorine cycle. The proposed site is the BARC campus at Visakhapatnam, where siting approval has already been received. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has also issued the Terms of Reference for obtaining environmental clearance.
The government said the SHANTI Act will promote indigenous nuclear technologies by encouraging greater participation of private industry in research, development and manufacturing. BARC is working closely with Indian industries through technology sharing and capacity building to strengthen the domestic nuclear supply chain.
The legislation also grants statutory status to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), enabling it to function as an independent regulator with powers to frame regulations, oversee compliance, enforce safety standards and advise the central government on nuclear safety matters.
The Government said nuclear safety continues to receive the highest priority across all stages of the nuclear power programme, including site selection, design, construction, commissioning and operation. Nuclear power plants are built using multiple safety barriers, redundant systems, diverse engineering safeguards and defence-in-depth principles to minimise operational risks.
It added that radioactive waste management is carried out in accordance with the Atomic Energy (Safe Disposal of Radioactive Wastes) Rules, 1987, and the AERB Safety Code on Management of Radioactive Waste. Radioactive waste is segregated, treated, conditioned and stored using engineered containment systems, while continuous environmental monitoring and periodic safety inspections are undertaken to ensure the protection of workers, the public and the environment.
