India's Nuclear Energy Mission and Small Modular Reactor Development

The Indian government has launched the Nuclear Energy Mission (NEM) with the objective of achieving 100 GWe nuclear power generation capacity by 2047, as announced in the Union Budget 2025–26. The mission specifically aims to design, develop, and operationalize at least five indigenous Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is leading the development of three distinct SMR designs: the 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200), the 55 MWe Small Modular Reactor (SMR-55), and a High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (HTGCR) with capacity up to 5 MWth for hydrogen production. These will serve as demonstration reactors, with capacity augmentation of BSMR-200 to 300 MWe envisaged based on operational experience.

Indigenous Technology Development and Manufacturing Capability

BARC is undertaking indigenous development of SMRs in collaboration with domestic industries, leveraging capabilities and expertise acquired from developing, manufacturing, and constructing indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs). The necessary technology for SMR development and deployment is available domestically, with majority of equipment within Indian industries' manufacturing capability with BARC's technological handholding. Specific indigenous developments include the Advanced Purished Reactor Vessel Alloy (ApuRVA) and technology for forgings for reactor pressure vessels of both BSMR-200 and SMR-55, developed in collaboration with Indian industries, plus in-house development of the control rod drive mechanism.

Regulatory Framework and Private Sector Participation

The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, 2025 was enacted by the Ministry of Law and Justice and notified on December 21, 2025. This comprehensive legislation contains enabling provisions for private sector participation to conduct research and innovations for peaceful application of nuclear energy under license and safety authorization. The act opens the nuclear sector for wider participation including public and private sectors while retaining sovereign control, grants statutory status to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) for stringent regulatory oversight, and reforms the liability regime to align with international conventions and practices. The new liability framework establishes graded liability based on facility nature and reactor power, enabling wider spectrum of participation.

AERB has specified safety requirements for nuclear power plants based on light water reactors, pressurised heavy water reactors, and sodium cooled fast reactors that incorporate current international benchmarks including IAEA safety standards. The established regulatory processes for licensing and safety oversight of nuclear power plants are generally technology neutral and can be utilized for advanced reactors including SMRs, with only minor technology-specific aspects requiring additional review.

Budget Allocation and Project Status

Under the Nuclear Energy Mission, a total budgetary provision of ₹20,000 crore has been allocated for research, development, and deployment of Small Modular Reactors. All three demonstration reactors have received in-principle approval for engineering and construction:

  • BSMR-200: Administrative & Financial sanction cleared by Atomic Energy Commission, approval obtained from Empowered Technology Group, with Tarapur, Maharashtra approved as the site
  • SMR-55: Tarapur, Maharashtra approved as the site by Atomic Energy Commission
  • HTGCR: Proposed site at BARC, Vizag with siting consent received; Terms of Reference for environmental clearances received from Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

The estimated construction time for these demonstration SMRs is 60 to 72 months from receipt of financial approval.