India's Nuclear Energy Mission Roadmap to 2047
India's Nuclear Energy Mission, announced in the Union Budget 2025–26, targets achieving 100 GWe nuclear power generation capacity by 2047 to support both the Viksit Bharat vision and net zero carbon emissions by 2070. The mission additionally aims to develop and operationalize at least five indigenous Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) by 2033.
To enable this expansion, Parliament enacted the SHANTI Act, 2025, which specifically opens the nuclear energy sector to private participation. The government has established a detailed roadmap where current nuclear power capacity of 8.78 GW is expected to reach approximately 22 GW by 2031-32 through completion of projects currently underway. Beyond 2032, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) is envisaged to set up another 32 GW capacity using indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR) and Light Water Reactors (LWR), bringing total NPCIL capacity to about 54 GW by 2047. The remaining 46 GW is expected to be developed by other Public Sector Enterprises (both Central and State), State Governments, the private sector, and Joint Ventures using various business models and reactor technologies.
Small Modular Reactor Development Status
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is leading the design and development of three SMR technologies. The 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200), an indigenous Pressurized Water Reactor, has received in-principle approval for engineering and construction, cleared its proposal for Administrative & Financial sanction through the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and Empowered Technology Group (ETG), and has Tarapur, Maharashtra approved as its site. The 55 MWe Small Modular Reactor (SMR-55), also based on Pressurised Water Reactor design, has similarly received in-principle approval and site approval at Tarapur. The High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (HTGCR) with power up to 5 MWth, designed for hydrogen production using thermochemical cycles like copper-chlorine, has received in-principle approval with proposed site at BARC, Vizag, where siting consent has been obtained and Terms of Reference for environmental clearances received from MoEF&CC.
Regulatory Framework and Private Sector Participation
The SHANTI Act-2025 facilitates private entity participation in nuclear energy including R&D, with BARC engaging Indian industries through knowledge sharing and handholding for SMR technology development. The Act establishes the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) as a statutory body with independent functions including drafting regulations, conducting regulatory oversight, taking enforcement actions, and making recommendations to the Central Government, providing enhanced legislative framework for nuclear safety during expansion.
Safety and Waste Management Protocols
India maintains a robust nuclear safety and security system with highest priority given to safety in siting, design, construction, commissioning, and operation. Plants incorporate redundancy, diversity, and fail-safe design features with multiple barriers between radioactivity and environment. Nuclear waste handling follows strict procedures under Atomic Energy (Safe Disposal of Radioactive Wastes) Rules, 1987 and AERB Safety Code, with waste segregated by activity level, treated using chemical decontamination, absorption, ion exchange/membrane separations, and volume reduction, then conditioned into stable forms for storage in engineered systems with multiple containment barriers. Operations are conducted under radiological surveillance with regular monitoring and periodic safety reviews by both NPCIL and AERB.