The government recently announced in the Rajya Sabha that five indigenously designed modular reactors, referred to as Bharat nuclear reactors, will be constructed over the coming years with private sector involvement in the nuclear energy industry. This initiative is part of the broader plan to generate 100 GW of nuclear power by 2047, with the nuclear energy budget having seen a significant 170% increase over the past decade.

Responding to supplementary questions during Question Hour in the Upper House, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Jitendra Singh, emphasised that the “out-of-the-box” approach and the decision to break past “taboos” by involving private players in the nuclear sector have significantly boosted the country’s civil nuclear programme. He stated, “India’s focus is on manufacturing small modular reactors with private sector participation. These reactors are highly relevant for India, given its diverse population distributed across small, densely populated areas and industrial hubs. Therefore, small modular reactors of capacities such as 300 MW, 16 MW, and 200 MW are particularly well-suited to the country’s needs.”

He further informed the House that five small breeder reactors are set to be completed in the coming years, with an allocation of Rs 20,000 crore for this initiative. The reactors will include capacities of 200 MW, 55 MW, and 10 MW. India is also collaborating with France, the US, and private players, with a primary focus on fostering indigenous manufacturing.

Brij Lal raised a starred question regarding the nuclear mission announced in this year's budget. Singh referred to the nuclear mission as a “path-breaking decision”, highlighting that it was launched with the primary goal of addressing India’s growing energy demands while providing a clean and environmentally friendly source of energy. "The 100-GW energy target is set to be achieved by 2047, which will account for 10% of India’s energy needs by that time," he stated.