India's Ambitious Nuclear Energy Expansion Plan
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Science and Technology (Nuclear Energy, SMRs, PHWR), Indian Economy (Energy Security, Infrastructure), Environment (Net Zero, Climate Change Commitments).
Mains:
GS Paper 2 (Polity & Governance): Government Policies and Interventions, amendments to critical legislations like the Atomic Energy Act and CLNDA.
GS Paper 3 (Economy, S&T, Environment): Infrastructure: Energy; Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life; Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology; Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation.
Key Highlights from the News
In the 2025-26 Union Budget, a significant change in India's nuclear energy plan was announced. The new target is to achieve 100 GW of nuclear power generation capacity by 2047, up from the current 8.18 GW.
Nuclear energy will play a crucial role in achieving two main goals: becoming a Viksit Bharat (developed India) by 2047 and achieving "net zero emissions" by 2070.
As part of the Nuclear Energy Mission, special assistance of ₹20,000 crore was announced for developing five indigenously designed Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) by 2033.
To achieve these targets, the participation of both domestic and foreign private players in the nuclear energy sector, which has traditionally been government-controlled, is essential.
For this, significant changes need to be made to laws such as the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA), 2010.
COMMENTS