Nuclear power in India

This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (September 2023)

|

Jaitapur

Chutka

Banswara

Gorakhpur

Kovvada

PFBR

Mumbai(Trombay)

Kaiga

Kakrapar

Chennai(Kalpakkam)

Kudankulam

Narora

Rajasthan

Tarapur

class=notpageimage|

Atomic Power Stations in India (view)
Active plants
Under construction
Planned plants

Nuclear power is the fifth-largest source of electricity in India after coal, hydro, solar and wind. As of April 2025[update], India has 25 nuclear reactors in operation in 8 nuclear power plants, with a total installed capacity of 8,880 MW.[1][2] Nuclear power produced a total of 57 TWh in FY 2024-25, contributing around 3% of total power generation in India.[3] 11 more reactors are under construction with a combined generation capacity of 8,700 MW.

In October 2010, India drew up a plan to reach a nuclear power capacity of 63 GW in 2032.[4] However, following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, there have been numerous anti-nuclear protests at proposed nuclear power plant sites.[5] There have been mass protests against the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project in Maharashtra and the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu, and a proposed large nuclear power plant near Haripur was refused permission by the Government of West Bengal.[5] A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has also been filed against the government's civil nuclear programme at the Supreme Court.[5][6]

India has been making advances in the field of thorium-based fuels, working to design and develop a prototype for an atomic reactor using thorium and low-enriched uranium, a key part of India's three stage nuclear power programme.[7]

## History

[edit]

Nuclear power generation[8][9][10] Year  | Generation (TWh)

|

2005  |

17.6

2006  |

17.7

2007  |

17.7

2008  |

15.0

2009  |

16.8

2010  |

23.0

2011  |

32.3

2012  |

33.1

2013  |

33.1

2014  |

34.5

2015  |

38.4

2016  |

38.0

2017  |

37.4

2018  |

39.1

2019  |

45.2

2020  |

44.6

2021  |

43.9

2022  |

46.2

2023  |

48.2

### Early nuclear physics research

[edit]

As early as 1901, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) had recognised India as potentially having significant deposits of radioactive ores, including pitchblende, uranium and thorianite. In the ensuing 50 years, however, little to no effort was made to exploit those resources.[11] During the 1920s and 1930s, Indian scientists maintained close links to their counterparts in Europe and the United States, and were well aware of the latest developments in physics. Several Indian physicists, notably Daulat Singh Kothari, Meghnad Saha, Homi J. Bhabha and R. S. Krishnan, conducted pioneering research in nuclear physics in Europe during the 1930s.

By 1939, Meghnad Saha, the Palit Professor of Physics at the University of Calcutta, had recognised the significance of the discovery of nuclear fission, and had begun to conduct various experiments in his laboratory related to nuclear physics. In 1940, he incorporated nuclear physics into the university's post-graduate curriculum.[12] In the same year, the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust sanctioned funds for installing a cyclotron at the University of Calcutta, but various difficulties likely related to the war delayed the project.[13] In 1944, Homi J. Bhabha, a distinguished nuclear physicist who had established a research school at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, wrote a letter to his distant cousin J. R. D. Tata, the chairman of the Tata Group. He requested funds to establish a research institute of fundamental physics, "with special reference to cosmic rays and nuclear physics." The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) was inaugurated in Mumbai the following year.[14]

### Establishment of atomic energy in India

[edit]

Following the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in August 1945, R.S. Krishnan, a nuclear physicist who had studied under Norman Feather and John Cockcroft, and who recognised the massive energy-generating potential of uranium, observed, "If the tremendous energy released from atomic explosions is made available to drive machinery, etc., it will bring about an industrial revolution of a far-reaching character." He further noted, however, the difficulties in harnessing nuclear power for peaceful usage, "...a great deal more research work is needed before atomic power can be put to industrial use."[15]

In March 1946, the Board of Scientific and Industrial Research (BSIR), under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), set up an Atomic Research Committee under Bhabha's leadership to explore India's atomic energy resources and to suggest ways to develop and harness them, along with establishing contacts with similar organisations in other nations.[16] At the same time, the University of Travancore's research council met to discuss Travancore's future industrial development. Among other matters, the council made recommendations for developing the state's resources of monazite, a valuable thorium ore, and ilmenite, with regard to their applications in atomic energy. The council suggested the project could be undertaken by an all-India programme.[16] This was followed by the deputation of Bhabha and Sir Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, the Director of the CSIR, to Travancore in April 1947 and the establishment of a working relationship with the kingdom's dewan, Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer.[17]

Early in 1947, plans were made to establish a Uranium Unit under the Geological Survey of India, to focus on identifying and developing resources of uranium-bearing minerals.[18] In June 1947, two months before Indian independence, Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, then Minister for Industry, Supply, Education and Finance in the Interim Government of India, established an advisory board for research in atomic energy. Chaired by Bhabha and placed under the CSIR, the advisory board included Saha, Bhatnagar and several other distinguished scientists, notably Sir K. S. Krishnan, the co-discoverer of the Raman effect, geologist Darashaw Nosherwan Wadia and Nazir Ahmed, a student of Ernest Rutherford. A Joint Committee comprising the above scientists and three representatives of the Travancore government was set up to determine how best to utilise Travancore's resources of monazite.[19] Following the independence and partition of India, Travancore briefly declared itself independent before acceding to the new Dominion of India in 1949 after a period of intense negotiations, while Ahmad departed for Pakistan, where he would eventually head that nation's atomic energy agency.

On 23 March 1948, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru introduced the Atomic Energy Bill in the Indian Parliament,[20] and it was subsequently passed as the Indian Atomic Energy Act. Modelled on the British Atomic Energy Act 1946, the Act granted sweeping powers to the central government over nuclear science and research, including surveying for atomic minerals, the development of such mineral resources on an industrial scale, conducting research regarding the scientific and technical problems connected with developing atomic energy for peaceful purposes, the training and education of the necessary personnel and the fostering of fundamental research in the nuclear sciences in Indian laboratories, institutes and universities.[14] Around the same time, the Government of West Bengal sanctioned the construction of a nuclear physics institute under the University of Calcutta; the cornerstone was laid in May 1948,[21] and the institute was inaugurated on 11 January 1950 by Irène Joliot-Curie.[12]

With effect from 1 June 1948, the advisory board for Research in Atomic Energy, together with its parent organisation the CSIR, was folded into the new Department of Scientific Research and placed directly under the Prime Minister. On 3 August 1948, the Atomic Energy Commission of India (AEC) was established and made separate from the Department of Scientific Research, with Bhabha as its first chairman.[22] In January 1949, the AEC met to formulate a uniform under- and post-graduate university syllabus for theoretical and fundamental physics and chemistry, to guarantee sufficient numbers of nuclear scientists and to ensure they would receive consistent levels of training and education.[23] In the same year, the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research was designated by the CSIR as the hub for all major nuclear science research projects. In 1950, the government announced it would purchase all available stocks of uranium and beryllium minerals and ores, and declared large rewards for any significant discoveries of the same.[24][25] On 3 January 1954, the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET) was established by the Atomic Energy Commission to consolidate all nuclear reactor research and technology-related developments; on 3 August, the Atomic Energy Commission and all its subordinate agencies, including the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and the nuclear research institute at Calcutta University, were transferred to the new Department of Atomic Energy and placed under the direct charge of the Prime Minister's Office.[14] In May 1956, construction on a uranium metal plant and a fuel element fabrication facility for the research reactors began at Trombay; the uranium plant came into operation in January 1959, followed by the fuel element facility in February 1960.[26][27] The AEET (renamed the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in 1967, after Bhabha's death) was formally inaugurated by Nehru in January 1957.[26] With the expanding scope of Indian nuclear research, the 1948 Atomic Energy Act was amended in 1961, and was passed as the new Atomic Energy Act, coming into force in September 1962.[28][29][26]

### Early research reactors

[edit]

Indian stamp shows Apsara, India's and Asia's first nuclear reactor, at Trombay

At a meeting of the Atomic Energy Commission on 15 March 1955, the decision was made to construct a small nuclear reactor at Trombay. The reactor would be used for training personnel for the operation of future reactors and for research, including experiments in nuclear physics, studying the effects of irradiation and the production of isotopes for medical, agricultural and industrial research.[30] In October 1955, an agreement was signed by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and the Indian Department of Atomic Energy, under which Britain would supply uranium fuel elements for a swimming pool reactor to be designed by India.[30] The agreement further ensured the "close cooperation and mutual assistance between the Department and the Authority in the promotion and development of the peaceful uses of atomic energy," and provided for future design and collaboration in the construction of a high flux reactor at a later date.[31] Named Apsara, the reactor was housed in a 100 x 50 x 70 concrete building. India's and Asia's first nuclear reactor, Apsara reached criticality at 3:45 p.m on 4 August 1956 and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Nehru on 20 January 1957.[30][32][33]

In April 1955, the Canadian government under Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent offered to assist in building an NRX-type reactor for India under the Colombo Plan, of which both India and Canada were then members. Prime Minister St. Laurent expressed hopes the reactor would serve India well in the development of peaceful atomic research and development. On behalf of the Indian government, Nehru formally accepted the offer that September, stating the reactor would be made available to any accredited foreign scientists, including those from other Colombo Plan member states.[34][35][36] On 28 April 1956, Nehru and the Canadian High Commissioner to India Escott Reid signed an agreement for a "Canada-India Colombo Plan Atomic Reactor Project." Under the terms of the agreement, Canada would provide a 40 MW CIRUS reactor for solely research purposes, including the initial manufacture and engineering of the reactor, and would also provide technical expertise, including training Indian personnel in its operation. India would supply the reactor site and foundation, and would also pay all "internal" costs, including the construction of the reactor complex, the costs of local labour and any shipping and insurance fees.[37] Under Article II of the agreement, India would make the reactor facilities available to other Colombo Plan nations. Article III stipulated that the "reactor and any products resulting from its use will be employed for peaceful purposes only;"[37] at the time, however, there were no effective safeguards to ensure this clause.[35][36] A further agreement was made with the United States government to supply 21 tons of heavy water for the reactor.[38] Construction of the reactor began later in 1956, with Indian technical personnel sent to Chalk River for training.[39] CIRUS was completed in early 1960 and after achieving criticality in July 1960, was inaugurated by Nehru in January 1961.[40] Construction of a third research reactor, ZERLINA (Zero Energy Reactor for Lattice Investigations and New Assemblies) began at Trombay in 1958; ZERLINA was also commissioned in 1961.[41]

### Beginnings of commercial nuclear power

[edit]

Cooling towers of Narora Atomic Power Station in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India

In September 1955, the question of building a commercial nuclear power station was raised in Parliament.[42] Shortly after the world's first commercial nuclear power plant came online at Obninsk in the Soviet Union, the Soviets invited a number of Indian experts to visit it; the United States concurrently offered training in atomic energy to Indian technical and scientific personnel.[43] In August 1957, members of the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce in Ahmedabad (then in Bombay State) requested an atomic power station for their city, by which time the Indian government was actively considering the construction of at least "one or more large Atomic Power Stations to generate electricity."[44] By November 1958, the Atomic Energy Commission had recommended construction of two nuclear power stations, each consisting of two units and able to generate 500 MW of power, for a total generating capacity of 1000 MW; the government decided that a minimum of 250 MW of electricity generated from nuclear reactors would be incorporated into the Third Five Year Plan (1961–1966).[45]

In February 1960, it was decided the first power plant would be erected in Western India, with locations in Rajasthan, near Delhi and near Madras noted for future commercial reactors.[46] In September, the Punjab government requested a nuclear power station for their state.[47] On 11 October 1960, the Indian government issued a tender for India's first nuclear power station near Tarapur, Maharashtra and consisting of two reactors, each generating around 150 MW of electricity and to be commissioned in 1965.[48] In August 1961, the Indian and Canadian governments agreed to conduct a joint study on building a Canada-India nuclear power plant in Rajasthan; the reactor would be based on the CANDU reactor at Douglas Point and would generate 200 MW.[40] By this time, seven responses to India's global tender for the Tarapur power station had been received: three from the United States, two from the UK and one each from France and Canada.[49]

The agreement for India's first nuclear power plant at Rajasthan, RAPP-1, was signed in 1963, followed by RAPP-2 in 1966. These reactors contained rigid safeguards to ensure they would not be used for a military programme. RAPP-1 began operation in 1972. Due to technical problems the reactor had to be downrated from 200 MW to 100 MW.[citation needed] The technical and design information were given free of charge by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited to India.[citation needed] The United States and Canada terminated their assistance after the detonation of India's first nuclear explosion in 1974.

### India fast Breeder Reactor Plans

[edit]

India's fast breeder reactor (FBR) program is a crucial part of the nation's strategy to expand its nuclear energy capabilities and ensure energy security. The centerpiece of this program is the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) located at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. Developed by the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), the PFBR is a 500 MW sodium-cooled fast reactor designed to generate more fissile material than it consumes. It aims to produce plutonium-239 from uranium-238 using mixed oxide (MOX) fuel, which is a blend of plutonium-239 and uranium-238.[citation needed]

This technology is pivotal for India's long-term nuclear energy plans, as it allows the country to utilize its vast reserves of thorium and uranium more efficiently. By producing more fissile material than it consumes, the PFBR can significantly extend the life of nuclear fuel resources. Additionally, the success of the FBR program will contribute to India's energy security and sustainability goals, reducing reliance on imported fuels and supporting the country's growing energy needs.[citation needed]

### Recent developments

[edit]

After successful commissioning of Kudankulam units 1 & 2, an agreement was made with Russia in June 2017 for the units 5 & 6 (2 x 1000 MW) with an estimated cost of INR 250 million (3.85 million US$) per MW.[50][51] Earlier, India had also entered in to an agreement with Russia in October 2016 for the units 3 & 4 (2 x 1000 MW) with an estimated cost of INR 200 million (3.08 million US$) per MW.[50]

### Private sector participation

[edit]

In May 2025, it was reported that the Indian government may lift restrictions on private sector participation in the Indian nuclear industry during the 2025 Monsoon Session of Parliament.[52] It was also reported in May 2025 that the Indian government may allow foreign direct investment in the Indian nuclear industry, with foreign investments being capped at minority shareholding levels.[53]

## Nuclear fuel reserves

[edit]

India's domestic uranium reserves are small and the country is dependent on uranium imports to fuel its nuclear power industry. Since early 1990s, Russia has been a major supplier of nuclear fuel to India.[54] Due to dwindling domestic uranium reserves,[55] electricity generation from nuclear power in India declined by 12.83% from 2006 to 2008.[56] Following a waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in September 2008 which allowed it to commence international nuclear trade,[57] India has signed bilateral deals on civilian nuclear energy technology cooperation with several other countries, including France,[58] the United States,[59] the United Kingdom,[60] Canada,[61] and South Korea.[62] India has also uranium supply agreements with Russia,[63][64] Mongolia,[65] Kazakhstan,[66] Argentina[67] and Namibia.[68] An Indian private company won a uranium exploration contract in Niger.[69]

In March 2011 large deposits of uranium were discovered in the Tummalapalle belt in Andhra Pradesh and in the Bhima basin in Karnataka by the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) of India. The Tummalapalle belt uranium reserves promises to be one of the world's top 20 uranium reserves discoveries. 44,000 tonnes of natural uranium have been discovered in the belt so far, which is estimated to have three times that amount.[70][71][72] The natural uranium deposits of the Bhima basin has better grade of natural uranium ore, even though it is smaller than the Tummalapalle belt.

In recent years, India has shown increased interest in thorium fuels and fuel cycles because of large deposits of thorium (518,000 tonnes) in the form of monazite in beach sands as compared to very modest reserves of low-grade uranium (92,000 tonnes).[73]

Kazakhstan is the largest supplier of uranium to India providing 5,000 tonnes during 2015–19.[74] Over 15000 tonnes or uranium ore deposits are found in Rajasthan—Rohil, Sikar District[75]

## Nuclear agreements with other nations

[edit]

As of 2016, India has signed civil nuclear agreements with 14 countries: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Namibia, Russia, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam.[76] The 48-nation NSG granted a waiver to India on 6 September 2008 allowing it to access civilian nuclear technology and fuel from other countries.[77] India is the only country with known nuclear weapons which is not a party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) but is still allowed to carry out nuclear commerce with the rest of the world.[78]

India and Mongolia signed a crucial civil nuclear agreement on 15 June 2009 for supply of Uranium to India, during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Mongolia making it the fifth nation in the world to seal a civil nuclear pact with India. The MoU on "development of cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of radioactive minerals and nuclear energy" was signed by senior officials in the department of atomic energy of the two countries.[79]

On 2 September 2009, India and Namibia signed five agreements, including one on civil nuclear energy which allows for supply of uranium from the African country. This was signed during President Hifikepunye Pohamba's five-day visit to India in May 2009. Namibia is the fifth largest producer of uranium in the world. The Indo-Namibian agreement in peaceful uses of nuclear energy allows for supply of uranium and setting up of nuclear reactors.[68] On 14 October 2009, India and Argentina signed an agreement in New Delhi on civil nuclear cooperation and nine other pacts to establish strategic partnership. According to official sources, the agreement was signed by Vivek Katju, Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs and Argentine foreign minister Jorge Talana. Taking into consideration their respective capabilities and experience in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, both India and Argentina have agreed to encourage and support scientific, technical and commercial cooperation for mutual benefit in this field.[80][81]

The Prime Ministers of India and Canada signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement in Toronto on 28 June 2010 which when all steps are taken, will provide access for Canada's nuclear industry to India's expanding nuclear market and also fuel for India's reactors. Canada is one of the world's largest exporters of uranium[82] and Canada's heavy water nuclear technology is marketed abroad with CANDU-type units operating in India, Pakistan, Argentina, South Korea, Romania and China. On 6 November 2012, India and Canada finalised their 2010 nuclear export agreement, opening the way for Canada to begin uranium exports to India.[83]

On 16 April 2011, India and Kazakhstan signed an inter-governmental agreement for Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, that envisages a legal framework for supply of fuel, construction and operation of atomic power plants, exploration and joint mining of uranium, exchange of scientific and research information, reactor safety mechanisms and use of radiation technologies for healthcare. PM Manmohan Singh visited Astana where a deal was signed. After the talks, the Kazakh President Nazarbaev announced that his country would supply India with 2100 tonnes of uranium and was ready to do more. Kazakhstan is the largest producer of uranium in the world. India and Kazakhstan already have civil nuclear cooperation since January 2009 when Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and Kazakh nuclear company KazAtomProm signed an MoU during the visit of Nazarbaev to Delhi. Under the contract, KazAtomProm supplies uranium which is used by Indian reactors.[84][85]

South Korea became the latest country to sign a nuclear agreement with India after it got the waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG) in 2008. On 25 July 2011 India and South Korea signed a nuclear agreement, which will allow South Korea with a legal foundation to participate in India's nuclear expansion programme, and to bid for constructing nuclear power plants in India.[86]

In 2014, India and Australia signed a civil nuclear agreement which allows the export of uranium to India. This was signed in New Delhi during Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott's meeting with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 4 September 2014. Australia is the third largest producer of uranium in the world. The agreement allows supply of uranium for peaceful generation of power for civil use in India.[87][88]

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister David Cameron signed Civil Nuclear Agreement on 12 November 2015.[89]

### Reactor agreements

[edit]

After the Nuclear Suppliers Group agreed to allow nuclear exports to India, France was the first country to sign a civilian nuclear agreement with India, on 30 September 2008.[90] During the December 2010 visit of the French President Nicolas Sarkozy to India, framework agreements were signed for the setting up two third-generation EPR reactors of 1650 MW each at Jaitapur, Maharashtra by the French company Areva. The deal caters for the first set of two of six planned reactors and the supply of nuclear fuel for 25 years.[91] Construction has faced regulatory issues and difficulty in sourcing major components from Japan due to India not being a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.[92][93]

Units 1 and 2 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu, India

In April 2021 French group EDF made a binding offer to build six third-generation EPR nuclear reactors at the Jaitapur site, with an installed capacity of 9.6 gigawatts.[94]

In November 2016 Japan signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with India. Japanese nuclear plant builders saw this as potential lifeline given that domestic orders had ended following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, and India is proposing to build about 20 new reactors over the next decade.[95]

Russia has an ongoing agreement of 1988 vintage with India regarding establishing of two VVER 1000 MW reactors (water-cooled water-moderated light water power reactors) at Koodankulam in Tamil Nadu.[96] A 2008 agreement caters for provision of an additional four third generation VVER-1200 reactors of capacity 1170 MW each.[97] Russia has assisted in India's efforts to design a nuclear plant for its nuclear submarine.[98] In 2009, the Russians stated that Russia would not agree to curbs on export of sensitive technology to India. A new accord signed in Dec 2009 with Russia gives India freedom to proceed with the closed fuel cycle, which includes mining, preparation of the fuel for use in reactors, and reprocessing of spent fuel.[99][100]

In October 2018, India and Russia signed an agreement to construct 6 nuclear reactors. Russian state-owned reactor manufacturer Rosatom stated that it would offer its third-generation VVER reactors. The agreement is not a firm contract, but rather an agreement to work toward a firm contract.[101]

The nuclear agreement with the United States led to India issuing a Letter of Intent for purchasing 10,000 MW from the US. However, liability concerns and a few other issues are preventing further progress on the issue. Experts say that India's nuclear liability law discourages foreign nuclear companies. This law gives accident victims the right to seek damages from plant suppliers in the event of a mishap. It has "deterred foreign players like General Electric and Westinghouse Electric, a US-based unit of Toshiba, with companies asking for further clarification on compensation liability for private operators."[102] On 5 October 2018, India and Russia signed an agreement to construct 6 Russian nuclear reactors in India.[101]

The PHWR fleet of India, in analysis by M.V. Ramana, were constructed, fuelled and continue to operate, close to the price of Indian coal power stations.[103]

## Nuclear power plans

[edit]

Nuclear power percentage in the world[when?]

As of 2009, India envisaged to increase the contribution of nuclear power to overall electricity generation capacity from 2.8% to 9% within 25 years.[104] As of 2023, nuclear generated 3.1% of electricity in India, a share which is expected to rise with commissioning of multiple IPHWR-700 and VVER-1000 reactors. Union Budget FY26 has aimed to launch Nuclear Energy Mission to focusing on R&D of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), with aim of making at least 5 indigenously developed SMRs, that shall also be known as Bharat Small Reactors (BSRs) operational by 2033. Said initiative aims to enhance domestic nuclear capabilities, promote private sector participation, and accelerate the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies such as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). As of July 25, 2024, India’s nuclear capacity was 8180 MW.[105]

The Indian nuclear power industry is expected to undergo a significant expansion in the coming years, in part due to the passing of the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement. This agreement will allow India to carry out trade of nuclear fuel and technologies with other countries and significantly enhance its power generation capacity.[106] When the agreement goes through, India is expected to generate an additional 25 GW of nuclear power by 2020, bringing total estimated nuclear power generation to 45 GW.[107]Further, Union Budget FY26 has proposed to amend Atomic Energy Act and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act to realize goal of at least 100 GW of Nuclear Energy by 2047.[citation needed]

Risks related to nuclear power generation prompted Indian legislators to enact the 2010 Nuclear Liability Act which stipulates that nuclear suppliers, contractors and operators must bear financial responsibility in case of an accident. The legislation addresses key issues such as nuclear radiation and safety regulations, operational control and maintenance management of nuclear power plants, compensation in the event of a radiation-leak accident, disaster clean-up costs, operator responsibility and supplier liability.[108] A nuclear accident like the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster would have dire economic consequences in heavily populated India as did the 1984 Union Carbide Bhopal disaster, considered among the world's worst industrial disasters.[109]

India has already been using imported enriched uranium for light-water reactors that are currently under IAEA safeguards, but it has developed other aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle to support its reactors. Development of select technologies has been strongly affected by limited imports. Use of heavy water reactors has been particularly attractive for the nation because it allows Uranium to be burnt with little to no enrichment capabilities. India has also done a great amount of work in the development of a thorium centred fuel cycle. While uranium deposits in the nation are limited there are much greater reserves of thorium and it could provide hundreds of times the energy with the same mass of fuel. The fact that thorium can theoretically be utilised in heavy water reactors has tied the development of the two. A prototype reactor that would burn Uranium-Plutonium fuel while irradiating a thorium blanket is under construction at Kalpakkam by BHAVINI.

Uranium used for the weapons programme has been separated from the power programme, using uranium from indigenous reserves. This domestic reserve of 80,000 to 112,000 tons of uranium (approx 1% of global uranium reserves) is large enough to supply all of India's commercial and military reactors as well as supply all the needs of India's nuclear weapons arsenal. Currently, India's nuclear power reactors consume, at most, 478 tonnes of uranium per year.[110] Even if India were quadruple its nuclear power output (and reactor base) to 20 GW by 2020, nuclear power generation would only consume 2000 tonnes of uranium per annum. Based on India's known commercially viable reserves of 80,000 to 112,000 tons of uranium, this represents a 40–50 years uranium supply for India's nuclear power reactors (note with reprocessing and breeder reactor technology, this supply could be stretched out many times over). Furthermore, the uranium requirements of India's Nuclear Arsenal are only a fifteenth (1/15) of that required for power generation (approx. 32 tonnes), meaning that India's domestic fissile material supply is more than enough to meet all needs for its strategic nuclear arsenal. Therefore, India has sufficient uranium resources to meet its strategic and power requirements for the foreseeable future.[110]

Two IPHWR-700 reactors under construction at the Kakrapar Atomic Power Station in Gujarat

Former Indian President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam stated while he was in office that, "energy independence is India's first and highest priority. India has to go for nuclear power generation in a big way using thorium-based reactors. Thorium, a non-fissile material is available in abundance in our country."[111] India has vast thorium reserves and quite limited uranium reserves.[112][113]

The long-term goal of India's nuclear program has been to develop an advanced heavy-water thorium cycle. The first stage of this employs the pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWR) fuelled by natural uranium, and light water reactors, which produce plutonium incidentally to their prime purpose of electricity generation. The second stage uses fast neutron reactors burning the plutonium with the blanket around the core having uranium as well as thorium, so that further plutonium (ideally high-fissile Pu) is produced as well as U-233. The Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) has identified almost 12 million tonnes of monazite resources (typically with 6-7% thorium). In stage 3, Advanced Heavy Water Reactors (AHWR) would burn thorium-plutonium fuels in such a manner that breeds U-233 which can eventually be used as a self-sustaining fissile driver for a fleet of breeding AHWRs. An alternative stage 3 is molten salt breeder reactors (MSBR), which are believed to be another possible option for eventual large-scale deployment.[76]

In June 2014, Kudankulam-1 became the single largest power generating unit in India (1000 MWe).[114][115]

In January 2021, India's atomic energy secretary K.N. Vyas announced that the 700-megawatt pressurised heavy water reactor of the Kakrapar Atomic Power Station would be the first of the 16 such units planned in the country.[116]

## List of nuclear power plants

[edit]

Kudankulam power plant first two reactors while still under construction in 2009.

Main article: Nuclear power in India

Plant
name  | Unit
No.  | Type  | Model  | Status  | Capacity
(MW)  | Begin
building  | Commercial
operation  | Closed

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Chutka | 1 | PHWR | IPHWR-700 | Planned | 630 |  |  |
2 | Planned | 630 |  |  |
Gorakhpur | 1 | Under construction | 630 |  |  |
2 | Under construction | 630 |  |  |
3 | Planned | 630 |  |  |
4 | Planned | 630 |  |  |
Kaiga | 1 | IPHWR-220 | Operational | 202 | 1 Sep 1989 | 16 Nov 2000 |
2 | Operational | 202 | 1 Dec 1989 | 16 Mar 2000 |
3 | Operational | 202 | 30 Mar 2002 | 6 May 2007 |
4 | Operational | 202 | 10 May 2002 | 20 Jan 2011 |
5 | IPHWR-700 | Planned | 630 |  |  |
6 | Planned | 630 |  |  |
Kakrapar | 1 | IPHWR-220 | Operational | 202 | 1 Dec 1984 | 6 May 1993 |
2 | Operational | 202 | 1 Apr 1985 | 1 Sep 1995 |
3 | IPHWR-700 | Operational | 630 | 22 Nov 2010 | 30 Jun 2023 |
4 | Operational | 630 | 22 Nov 2010 | 31 Mar 2024 |
PFBR | 1 | SFR | PFBR | Under construction | 490 | 23 Oct 2004 | (2026) |
Kudankulam | 1 | PWR | VVER-1000/V-412 | Operational | 932 | 31 Mar 2002 | 31 Dec 2014 |
2 | Operational | 932 | 4 Jul 2002 | 31 Mar 2017 |
3 | Under construction | 917 | 30 Jun 2017 | (2026) |
4 | Under construction | 917 | 23 Oct 2017 | (2027) |
5 | Under construction | 917 | 29 Jun 2021 | (2029) |
6 | Under construction | 917 | 20 Dec 2021 | (2030) |
Madras | 1 | PHWR | IPHWR-220 | Operation suspended
(under maintenance) | 205 | 1 Jan 1971 | 27 Jan 1984 |
2 | Operational | 205 | 1 Oct 1972 | 21 Mar 1986 |
Mahi Banswara | 1 | IPHWR-700 | Planned | 630 |  | (2031) |
2 | Planned | 630 |  | (2032) |
3 | Planned | 630 |  | (2033) |
4 | Planned | 630 |  | (2034) |
Narora | 1 | IPHWR-220 | Operational | 202 | 1 Dec 1976 | 1 Jan 1991 |
2 | Operational | 202 | 1 Nov 1977 | 1 Jul 1992 |
Rajasthan | 1 | CANDU | Shut down | 90 | 1 Aug 1965 | 16 Dec 1973 | 9 Oct 2004[117]
2 | Operational | 187 | 1 Apr 1968 | 1 Apr 1981 |
3 | IPHWR-220 | Operational | 202 | 1 Feb 1990 | 1 Jun 2000 |
4 | Operational | 202 | 1 Oct 1990 | 23 Dec 2000 |
5 | Operational | 202 | 18 Sep 2002 | 4 Feb 2010 |
6 | Operational | 202 | 20 Jan 2003 | 31 Mar 2010 |
7 | IPHWR-700 | Operational | 630 | 18 Jul 2011 | 15 Apr 2025 |
8 | Under construction | 630 | 30 Sep 2011 | (2026) |
Tarapur | 1 | BWR | BWR-1 (Mark 2) | Operation suspended
(under maintenance) | 150 | 1 Oct 1964 | 28 Oct 1969 |
2 | Operation suspended
(under maintenance) | 150 | 1 Oct 1964 | 28 Oct 1969 |
3 | PHWR | IPHWR-540 | Operational | 490 | 12 May 2000 | 18 Aug 2006 |
4 | Operational | 490 | 8 Mar 2000 | 12 Sep 2005 |

## Nuclear electricity generation

[edit]

The details of the nuclear power generation capacity in the country are given below :[118]

Fiscal Year | Nuclear electricity
generation (GWh) | Capacity factor

|
|

2008–09 | 14,921 | 50%
2009–10 | 18,798 | 61%
2010–11 | 26,472 | 71%
2011–12 | 32,455 | 79%
2012–13 | 32,863 | 80%
2013–14 | 35,333 | 83%
2014–15 | 37,835 | 82%
2015–16 | 37,456 | 75%
2016–17 | 37,674 | 80%
2017–18 | 38,336 | 70%
2018–19 | 37,813 | 70%
2019–20 | 46,472 | 82%
2020–21 | 43,029 | 81%
2021–22 | 47,112 | 88%
2022–23 | 45,855 | 87%
2023–24 | 47,971 | 85%

## Anti-nuclear protests

[edit]

Following the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan, populations around proposed Indian NPP sites have launched protests that had found resonance around the country.[5] There have been mass protests against the French-backed 9,900 MW Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project in Maharashtra and the Russian-backed 2,000 MW Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu. The Government of West Bengal initially refused permission to a proposed 6,000 MW facility near the town of Haripur that intended to host 6 Russian reactors.[5][119] But after stiff resistance from locals, the proposed Nuclear Power Plant planned in Haripur has been shifted to Kavali in Andhra Pradesh.[120] Additionally, the Nuclear Power Plant planned at Kovvada, Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh was shifted from Mithi Virdi in Gujarat after locals in the Western state too showed resistance.[121]

A Public-interest litigation (PIL) has also been filed against the government's civil nuclear program at the Supreme Court. The PIL specifically asks for the "staying of all proposed nuclear power plants till satisfactory safety measures and cost-benefit analyses are completed by independent agencies".[6][122] But the Supreme Court said it was not an expert in the nuclear field to issue a direction to the government on the nuclear liability issue.[123]

## See also

[edit]

* Society portal
* Renewable energy portal
* Environment portal

* Economics of nuclear power plants
* Energy policy of India
* Electricity sector in India
* Energy in India
* India's three-stage nuclear power programme
* List of nuclear reactors#India

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Kudankulam nuclear plant begins power generation". Mumbai Mirror. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
2. ^ "India Installed Capacity" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 May 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
3. ^ "Home". Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
4. ^ "India eyeing 64,000 MW nuclear power capacity by 2032: NPCIL". The Economic Times. 11 October 2010.
5. ^ a b c d e Siddharth Srivastava (27 October 2011). "India's Rising Nuclear Safety Concerns". Asia Sentinel.
6. ^ a b Ranjit Devraj (25 October 2011). "Prospects Dim for India's Nuclear Power Expansion as Grassroots Uprising Spreads". Inside Climate News.
7. ^ Pham, Lisa (20 October 2009). "Considering an Alternative Fuel for Nuclear Energy". The New York Times.
8. ^ "BP Statistical Review of World Energy June 2017" (PDF). BP. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
9. ^ "BP Statistical Review of World Energy". BP. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
10. ^ "Electricity production by source".
11. ^ Srinivasan, N. R. (May 1950). "Uranium Minerals of India" (PDF). Current Science. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
12. ^ a b "Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics - History". Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
13. ^ "Nuclear Physics at the Calcutta University" (PDF). Current Science. May 1948. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
14. ^ a b c "Homi J. Bhabha (1909-1966)" (PDF). Indian National Science Academy. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
15. ^ Krishnan, R. S. (August 1945). "Atomic Energy" (PDF). Current Science. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
16. ^ a b "University of Travancore - Council of Research" (PDF). Current Science. March 1946. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
17. ^ "Atomic Research - Science Notes and News" (PDF). Current Science. April 1947. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
18. ^ "Uranium Unit of the Geological Survey - Science Notes and News" (PDF). Current Science. March 1947. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
19. ^ "Atomic Energy Research - Science Notes and News" (PDF). Current Science. June 1947. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
20. ^ "Atomic Energy in India - Science Notes and News" (PDF). Current Science. April 1948. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
21. ^ "Nuclear Physics at the Calcutta University - Science Notes and News" (PDF). Current Science. May 1948. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
22. ^ "Department of Scientific Research - Science Notes and News" (PDF). Current Science. August 1948. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
23. ^ "Atomic Energy Commission - Science Notes and News" (PDF). Current Science. March 1949. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
24. ^ "Government to Purchase Uranium Stocks - Science Notes and News" (PDF). Current Science. August 1950. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
25. ^ "Rewards for Discovery of Uranium and Beryl Ores - Science Notes and News" (PDF). Current Science. May 1950. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
26. ^ a b c Lal, Sham, ed. (1978). The Times of India Directory & Year Book, Including Who's Who: 1978. Times of India Press. pp. 149–153.
27. ^ "Editorial". The Bombay Technologist. 7 (1): 3. 1 February 1957. ISSN 0067-9925. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
28. ^ "Rajya Sabha Debates (1961) - Proposal to amend the Atomic Energy Act" (PDF). Government of India. 13 December 1961. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
29. ^ "Rajya Sabha Debates (1962) - THE ATOMIC ENERGY BILL, 1962" (PDF). Government of India. 30 August 1962. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
30. ^ a b c "India's First Atomic Reactor - Science Notes and News" (PDF). Current Science. August 1956. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
31. ^ "Agreement with U.K. on Atomic Energy" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 August 2017.
32. ^ "Research Reactors in BARC:Bhabha Atomic Research Centre(BARC), Department of Atomic Energy,Government of India". barc.gov.in.
33. ^ "Apsara Research Reactor". Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
34. ^ "Canadian Offer of Atomic Reactor" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 August 2017.
35. ^ a b Exporting Disaster ~ The Cost of Selling CANDU Reactors (3). Ccnr.org. Retrieved on 6 December 2013.
36. ^ a b Fuhrmann, Matthew (24 July 2012). Atomic Assistance: How "Atoms for Peace" Programmes Cause Nuclear Insecurity. Texas: Cornell University Press. pp. 93–95\. ISBN 978-0801478116.
37. ^ a b "Agreement on the Canada-India Colombo Plan Atomic Reactor Project" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 August 2017.
38. ^ "Atomic Research for Peaceful Uses" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 August 2017.
39. ^ "Canada-India Colombo Plan Atomic Reactor" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 August 2017.
40. ^ a b "Nuclear Power Station Survey: Canada-India Joint Survey" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 August 2017.
41. ^ "Atomic Research for Asian Welfare" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 August 2017.
42. ^ "Rajya Sabha Debates (1955) - Atomic Power Station" (PDF). Government of India. 7 September 1955. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
43. ^ "Rajya Sabha Debates (1955) - Indian Experts' Visit to Russian Atomic Plant" (PDF). Government of India. 28 September 1955. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
44. ^ "Rajya Sabha Debates (1957) - Setting up of an Atomic Reactor at Ahmedabad" (PDF). Government of India. 12 September 1957. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
45. ^ "Rajya Sabha Debates (1958) - Atomic Power Stations to be set up in India" (PDF). Government of India. 27 November 1958. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
46. ^ "Atomic Power Stations" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 August 2017.
47. ^ "Rajya Sabha Debates (1963) - Installation of Atomic Power Station in Punjab" (PDF). Government of India. 23 April 1963. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
48. ^ "India's First Atomic Power Station - Global Tenders Invited" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 August 2017.
49. ^ "Rajya Sabha Debates (1962) - Tarapur Atomic Power Project" (PDF). Government of India. 16 August 1962. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
50. ^ a b "Units 5, 6 at Kudankulam nuclear power plant to cost Rs 50000-crore". The Times of India. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
51. ^ "Recalling Kudankulam's Bumpy Ride as Reactor 2 Comes On". Retrieved 31 July 2017.
52. ^ Sasi, Anil (19 May 2025). "In nuclear energy push, Govt to allow private operators, limit their liability". The Indian Express. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
53. ^ "Indian nuclear sector opening doors for foreign investors starting with a 26% cap: Report". The Times of India. 21 May 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
54. ^ "Russia fulfills promise, supplies uranium to India". The Indian Express. Indian Express Limited. Archived from the original on 19 February 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
55. ^ "Uranium shortage holding back India's nuclear power drive - Corporate News". livemint.com. 30 June 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
56. ^ "Ministry of Power". Powermin.gov.in. Archived from the original on 18 March 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
57. ^ "news.outlookindia.com". Outlook India. Archived from the original on 22 September 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
58. ^ "India, France agree on civil nuclear cooperation". Rediff.com. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
59. ^ "Bush signs India-US nuclear deal into law - Home". livemint.com. 9 October 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
60. ^ "UK, India sign civil nuclear accord". Reuters. 13 February 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
61. ^ "Canada, India reach nuclear deal". Montreal Gazette. 29 November 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
62. ^ "India, South Korea ink civil nuclear deal". The Times of India. 25 July 2011. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012.
63. ^ "India to get 510 tonnes of uranium from Kazakhstan, Russia". Hindu Business Line. Archived from the original on 8 December 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
64. ^ "South Asia | Russia agrees India nuclear deal". BBC News. 11 February 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
65. ^ "India, Kazakhstan sign nuclear pact". The Financial Express. 16 September 2009.
66. ^ Sanjay Dutta (23 January 2009). "Kazakh nuclear, oil deals hang in balance". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
67. ^ India, Argentina ink agreement on peaceful uses of N-energy, The Hindu
68. ^ a b "India, Namibia sign uranium supply deal". Republikein Online. 2 September 2009. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
69. ^ "Indian firm acquires uranium mining rights in Niger | Uranium, Niger, Company, Bajla, Government". taurianresources.co.in. Archived from the original on 11 May 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
70. ^ Subramanian, T. S. (20 March 2011). "Massive uranium deposits found in Andhra Pradesh". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
71. ^ Thakur, Monami (19 July 2011). "Massive uranium deposits found in Andhra Pradesh". International Business Times. USA.
72. ^ Bedi, Rahul (19 July 2011). "Largest uranium reserves found in India". The Daily Telegraph. New Delhi, India. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022.
73. ^ "Thorium fuel cycle — Potential benefits and challenges" (PDF). International Atomic Energy Agency. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
74. ^ Laskar, Rezaul H (25 April 2019). "'We may scale up supply of uranium to India': Kazakhstan ambassador Bulat Sarsenbayev". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
75. ^ "Over 15000 tonnes of uranium ore deposits in Rajasthan". The Economic Times. 27 July 2022.
76. ^ a b "Nuclear Power in India". world-nuclear.org. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
77. ^ "Dateline Vienna: Thirty words that saved the day". Siddharth Varadarajan. 8 September 2008. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
78. ^ "AFP: India energized by nuclear pacts". 1 October 2008. Archived from the original on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2008.
79. ^ Bureau (15 September 2009). "India signs civil nuclear deal with Mongolia". The Financial Express. Retrieved 13 August 2011. `{{cite news}}`: `|author=` has generic name (help)
80. ^ Chatterjee, Amit Kumar (30 October 2009). "Argentina -India's seventh nuclear destination". Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
81. ^ "India signs N-pact with Argentina". OneIndia (online). 14 October 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
82. ^ Sinha, Mohnish (6 April 2010). "Indo-Canada Nuclear Accord". IndiaStand. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
83. ^ "India and Canada finalise conditions of nuclear deal". BBC News. 6 November 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
84. ^ "India, Kazakhstan ink civil nuclear cooperation deal". The Times of India. 17 April 2011. Archived from the original on 22 September 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
85. ^ "India, Kazakh ink nuke and oil pacts". The Indian Express. 16 April 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
86. ^ Sriniwas, Laxman (26 July 2011). "India & South Korea Sign Civil Nuclear Agreement". Asian Scientist (online). Retrieved 21 August 2011.
87. ^ "India and Australia seal nuclear deal, Abbott meets Modi". The Times of India. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
88. ^ "Australia to power India's energy market as Tony Abbott settles terms for uranium trade". The Sydney Morning Herald. 4 September 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
89. ^ "India signs civil nuclear agreement with Britain". The Times of India. 12 November 2015.
90. ^ Samanta, Pranab Dhal (1 October 2008). "India, France ink nuclear deal, first after NSG waiver". The Indian Express. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
91. ^ Yep, Eric & Jagota, Mukesh (6 December 2010). "Areva and NPCIL Sign Nuclear Agreement". The Wall Street Journal - Business (online). Archived from the original on 30 November 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
92. ^ Makarand Gadgil (29 November 2011). "Jaitapur nuclear plant work may not start before 2014". livemint.com. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
93. ^ Yadav, Kamal (5 August 2024). "India ready to add 21 new nuclear reactors to meet its growing power demands". TechArctic.
94. ^ "France's EDF makes binding offer to build six nuclear EPR reactors in India Reuters". Reuters.
95. ^ Jonathan Soble (11 November 2016). "Japan's Nuclear Industry Finds a Lifeline in India After Foundering Elsewhere". The Japan Times. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
96. ^ George, Nirmala (21 June 1998). "Moscow Ends Atomic Power Blockade to India". The Indian Express. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
97. ^ Sasi, Anil (12 October 2008). "NPCIL to go into details with 4 reactor suppliers". The Hindu (Business Online). Retrieved 21 August 2011.
98. ^ "Russia: Nuclear Exports to India". NTI. 2010. Archived from the original on 10 May 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
99. ^ "India, Russia sign nuclear deal". The Times of India. 7 December 2009. Archived from the original on 22 September 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
100. ^ Bagchi, Indrani (20 August 2011). "Keep your word, we will keep ours, India tells NSG (pg 1)". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 22 September 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
101. ^ a b "Russia signs pact for six nuclear reactors on new site in India". Reuters. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
102. ^ "India's nuclear plans losing steam; Anti-nuclear protests hinder plans to ramp up power generation". Power Engineering. 27 February 2012.[permanent dead link]
103. ^ "iei-asia.org". iei-asia.org.
104. ^ "Slowdown not to affect India's nuclear plans". Business Standard. 21 January 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
105. ^ "India's Installed Nuclear Power Capacity to Triple by 2031-32: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh". pib.gov.in. Archived from the original on 29 January 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
106. ^ http://www.ptinews.com/pti\ptisite.nsf/0/E696AFE1CBD8BA4C652574A600103BE1?OpenDocument [dead link]
107. ^ "At G-8, Singh, Bush reaffirm commitment to nuclear deal". livemint.com. 10 July 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
108. ^ "Lessons from Japan for India on Nuclear Energy". The Diplomat. 13 December 2013.
109. ^ "India ratifies, at last, a nuclear deal with the IAEA". The Economist. 28 June 2014.
110. ^ a b Tellis, Ashley J. "Atoms for War? U.S.-Indian Civilian Nuclear Cooperation and India's Nuclear Arsenal" (PDF). Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
111. ^ "Thorium Reactors Integral To Indian Energy Independence". The Energy Daily. 8 May 2007.
112. ^ Rahman, Maseeh (1 November 2011). "How Homi Bhabha's vision turned India into a nuclear R&D leader". The Guardian. Mumbai. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
113. ^ "A future energy giant? India's thorium-based nuclear plans". Physorg.com. 1 October 2010. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
114. ^ "Performance Audit Report on Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project, Units I and II" (PDF). Retrieved 29 December 2017.
115. ^ "Kudankulam Unit-1 hits full capacity at 1,000 MWe". The Indian Express. 8 June 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
116. ^ India debuts largest nuclear reactor with more planned, Hindustan Times, 19 January 2021.
117. ^ "PRIS – Reactor Details".
118. ^ "Nuclear Power Generation". Retrieved 29 October 2019.
119. ^ Harvey, Fiona (8 March 2012). "Dramatic fall in new nuclear power stations after Fukushima". The Guardian. London.
120. ^ "Andhra Pradesh to get another nuclear plant". Deccan Chronicle. 22 September 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
121. ^ "Gujarat's Mithivirdi nuclear power plant to be shifted to Andhra Pradesh due to delay in land acquisition -". Firstpost. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
122. ^ Siddharth Srivastava (27 October 2011). "India's Rising Nuclear Safety Concerns". Asia Sentinel. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
123. ^ "SC steers clear of PIL on N-liability". The Times of India. 6 December 2011. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012.

## External links

[edit]

* Nuclear Power Corporation of India
* Department of Atomic Energy
* Nuclear Power in India by the World Nuclear Association

* v
* t
* e

Nuclear power in India

Uranium resources|

* Jaduguda uranium mine
* Tummalapalle uranium mine

Nuclear reactor technologies|

| Three-stage nuclear power programme|

| Stage I - PHWR|

* IPHWR
* IPHWR-220
* IPHWR-540
* IPHWR-700

|

Stage II - FBR|

* PFBR
* FBR-600

Stage III - Thorium|

* AHWR-300

Light Water Reactors|

| Electricity generation|

* IPWR-900

|

Nuclear marine propulsion|

* CLWR
* CLWR-B1
* CLWR-B2

Research reactors|

| BARC|

* APSARA
* CIRUS
* ZERLINA
* Dhruva
* PURNIMA-I
* PURNIMA-II
* PURNIMA-III

|

IGCAR|

* KAMINI
* Fast Breeder Test Reactor

Proposed|

* Compact High Temperature Reactor
* High-flux Research Reactor

Nuclear Power Plants|

* Gorakhpur (Haryana)
* Kaiga
* Kakrapar
* Kudankulam
* Madras (Kalpakkam)
* Narora
* Rajasthan (Rawatbhata)
* Tarapur
* Jaitapur (Proposed)
* Kovvada (Proposed)

Research and testing|

* Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research
* Nuclear Fuel Complex
* Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)
* CIRUS reactor
* Dhruva reactor
* Heavy Water Board
* High Altitude Research Laboratory
* Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology
* Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR)
* Institute for Plasma Research (IPR)
* Pokhran
* Pokhran-I (Smiling Buddha)
* Pokhran-II (Operation Shakti)
* Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC)

Organisations|

* Atomic Energy Commission of India
* Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB)
* Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Ltd. (BHAVINI)
* Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT)
* Department of Atomic Energy
* Homi Bhabha National Institute
* Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL)
* Indian Rare Earths Limited
* Uranium Corporation of India

Other topics|

* Energy policy of India
* India's three stage nuclear power programme
* India–United States Civil Nuclear Agreement

* Electricity sector
* Solar power
* Wind power

* v
* t
* e

Nuclear power by country

GWe > 10|

* Canada
* China
* France
* Japan
* Russia
* South Korea
* Ukraine
* United States

GWe > 5|

* Belgium
* India
* Spain
* Sweden
* United Kingdom

GWe > 2|

* Czech Republic
* Finland
* Germany
* Pakistan
* Switzerland
* Taiwan
* UAE

GWe > 1|

* Argentina
* Belarus
* Brazil
* Bulgaria
* Hungary
* Mexico
* Romania
* Slovakia
* South Africa

GWe < 1|

* Armenia
* Iran
* Netherlands
* Slovenia

Planned|

* Albania
* Algeria
* Bangladesh
* Chile
* Egypt
* Ghana
* Indonesia
* Israel
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan
* Kenya
* Morocco
* Myanmar
* Nigeria
* North Korea
* Philippines
* Poland
* Saudi Arabia
* Sri Lanka
* Thailand
* Tunisia
* Turkey
* Vietnam

Abandoned plans
for new plants|

* Australia
* Austria
* Cuba
* Ireland
* Libya
* Lithuania
* Malaysia
* Portugal
* Syria
* Taiwan
* Venezuela

Phasing-out|

* Belgium (delayed)
* Germany
* Italy (already)
* Spain
* Switzerland (gradually)
* Taiwan

* List of nuclear power stations
* Nuclear energy policy
* Nuclear energy policy by country
* Nuclear accidents
* Nuclear technology portal

* v
* t
* e

Nuclear energy in Asia

Sovereign states|

* Afghanistan
* Armenia
* Azerbaijan
* Bahrain
* Bangladesh
* Bhutan
* Brunei
* Cambodia
* China
* Cyprus
* Egypt
* Georgia
* India
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Iraq
* Israel
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan
* North Korea
* South Korea
* Kuwait
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Lebanon
* Malaysia
* Maldives
* Mongolia
* Myanmar
* Nepal
* Oman
* Pakistan
* Philippines
* Qatar
* Russia
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* Sri Lanka
* Syria
* Tajikistan
* Thailand
* Timor-Leste (East Timor)
* Turkey
* Turkmenistan
* United Arab Emirates
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam
* Yemen

States with
limited recognition|

* Abkhazia
* Northern Cyprus
* Palestine
* South Ossetia
* Taiwan

Dependencies and
other territories|

* British Indian Ocean Territory
* Christmas Island
* Cocos (Keeling) Islands
* Hong Kong
* Macau

* Category
* Asia portal

* v
* t
* e

Anti-nuclear movement

Protests
and groups|

* Anti-nuclear organizations
* Anti-nuclear power groups
* Anti-nuclear protests
* Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
* Greenpeace
* International Association of Lawyers against Nuclear Arms
* International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons
* International Day against Nuclear Tests
* International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
* International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War
* Mayors for Peace
* Nuclear Information and Resource Service
* Nevada Desert Experience
* Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign
* Peace Action and SANE
* Physicians for Social Responsibility
* Pembina Institute
* Sortir du nucléaire
* World Uranium Hearing

By country|

* Australia
* Austria
* Canada
* France
* Germany
* India
* Japan
* Kazakhstan
* New Zealand
* Philippines
* Poland
* Russia
* South Africa
* South Korea
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Taiwan
* Turkey
* United Kingdom
* United States

People|

* Tadatoshi Akiba
* Daniel Berrigan
* Albert Bigelow
* Helen Caldicott
* Norman Cousins
* Gordon Edwards
* Albert Einstein
* Randall Forsberg
* John Gofman
* Jim Green
* Paul Gunter
* Otto Hahn
* Nobuto Hosaka
* Jackie Hudson
* Kate Hudson
* Ole Kopreitan
* David Lange
* Amory Lovins
* Bernard Lown
* Caroline Lucas
* Freda Meissner-Blau
* Gregory Minor
* Hermann Joseph Muller
* Kenzaburō Ōe
* Linus Pauling
* Mike Pentz
* C. F. Powell
* Adi Roche
* Joseph Rotblat
* Bertrand Russell
* Jens Scheer
* Jonathan Schell
* Albert Schweitzer
* Christopher Weeramantry

Media|

* Books about nuclear issues
* Films about nuclear issues
* Nuclear holocaust fiction
* Nuclear weapons in popular culture
* Songs about nuclear war and weapons

Related
topics|

* Anti-war movement
* Bikini Atoll
* Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
* Defence Secretariat 19
* France and weapons of mass destruction
* Göttingen Manifesto
* History of the anti-nuclear movement
* Advisory opinion on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons
* Lists of nuclear disasters and radioactive incidents
* Mainau Declaration
* Nuclear-Free Future Award
* Nuclear-free zone
* Nuclear power debate
* Nuclear power phase-out
* Nuclear weapons convention
* Nuclear weapons debate
* Peace activists
* Otto Hahn Peace Medal
* Peace movement
* Peace camp
* Russell–Einstein Manifesto
* Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
* Smiling Sun
* The Bomb

* Category

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template