India Targets 100 GWe Nuclear Capacity by 2047: Jitendra Singh

• At least five indigenous SMRs are targeted for operationalisation by 2033.
• The Nuclear Energy Mission aims to raise nuclear capacity to 100 GWe by 2047.
• The SHANTI Act, 2025 enables wider private-sector participation in the nuclear sector.
• India is advancing its three-stage nuclear programme to harness its thorium resources.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 12th Aug: India is strengthening its indigenous nuclear energy ecosystem with a focus on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), advanced reactor technologies, domestic manufacturing, private-sector participation and thorium utilisation, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and PMO, Dr. Jitendra Singh, said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

The government’s long-term strategy remains anchored in India’s three-stage nuclear power programme, with the Nuclear Energy Mission announced in the Union Budget 2025-26 targeting an expansion of nuclear capacity to 100 GWe by 2047.

The government has adopted a two-pronged approach to nuclear capacity addition, combining large indigenous reactors such as 700 MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) with advanced reactor designs, alongside SMRs for brownfield sites, captive industrial applications and off-grid requirements.

Five Indigenous SMRs Targeted by 2033
A key objective of the Nuclear Energy Mission is to develop and operationalise at least five indigenous SMRs by 2033.

The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is developing indigenous SMR technologies, including the 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200) and 55 MWe SMR-55 for power generation.

BARC is also developing a High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor of up to 5 MWth capacity, which could be coupled with a suitable thermochemical cycle for hydrogen production.

The Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) is meanwhile advancing the second stage of India’s nuclear programme through research and engineering development related to Sodium Cooled Fast Breeder Reactors and associated closed fuel-cycle facilities.

SHANTI Act Opens Door for Private Sector
Dr. Jitendra Singh said the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, 2025 has been enacted to enable wider participation of public and private entities in the nuclear sector.

The Department of Atomic Energy is supporting Indian industry through knowledge-sharing and handholding for new SMR technologies while strengthening domestic nuclear vendors and private-sector research and development.

Domestic industry has already developed critical components including low-alloy steel forgings for reactor pressure vessels and reactivity control drive mechanisms, while work on other critical equipment is underway.

The reforms under the SHANTI Act seek greater private participation in nuclear manufacturing, engineering services, R&D and supply chains, while retaining stringent nuclear safety, security and safeguards.

Focus on Thorium
The government is also pursuing the three-stage nuclear programme to progressively utilise India’s abundant thorium resources.

Under the first stage, natural uranium is used in PHWRs, followed by reprocessing of spent fuel to extract plutonium. The second stage involves Fast Breeder Reactors, while the third stage envisages large-scale utilisation of thorium through uranium-233.

India has already undertaken research into thorium utilisation, including the use of Thorium Oxide pellets in PHWRs and irradiation of Thoria-based fuels in BARC research reactors. Uranium-233 recovered through reprocessing has subsequently been fabricated as fuel for the KAMINI reactor at IGCAR, Kalpakkam.

The government said its broader nuclear strategy combines indigenous technology development, capacity expansion, domestic manufacturing, advanced reactor research and investment in the nuclear fuel cycle to strengthen India’s energy security and technological self-reliance.