NISER Graduation Ceremony Highlights India's Nuclear Energy Expansion
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh addressed the 15th Graduation Ceremony of the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) in Bhubaneswar, emphasizing the institution's role as a premier establishment under the Department of Atomic Energy that reports directly to the Prime Minister. The ceremony, graced by Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan as Chief Guest, along with Odisha Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, conferred degrees upon 260 students across Integrated M.Sc., Integrated M.Sc.-Ph.D., M.Sc. and Ph.D. programmes.
Dr. Singh highlighted that India's nuclear programme has entered a new phase of growth under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, building upon the peaceful purposes vision originally envisioned by Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha. The minister stated that India has achieved a significant milestone with the development of the country's first Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor, marking entry into the second stage of its nuclear programme and reflecting the maturity of India's indigenous scientific capabilities.
Regarding energy capacity, Dr. Singh revealed that India currently has an installed nuclear power generation capacity of 8,780 MW and has set an ambitious target of expanding this capacity to 22,380 MW by 2032. This expansion reflects the country's determination to ensure energy security while pursuing clean and sustainable power sources.
The minister also announced strategic infrastructure developments, noting that the Union Budget has approved the development of four Rare Earth Corridors, including one in Odisha, with the remaining three to be established in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala. These initiatives are expected to significantly strengthen India's strategic mineral ecosystem and support emerging technologies of the future.
Dr. Singh emphasized that the 260 graduating students would be partners in India's march towards achieving twin national commitments: building a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047 and achieving Net Zero emissions through science-led development. He noted that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has fundamentally transformed India's education ecosystem by encouraging aptitude-based and interdisciplinary learning, which institutions like NISER have embraced by integrating interdisciplinary education, innovation, and research into their academic framework.