Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat

India is working on a road map under the Nuclear Energy Mission to generate 100 GW of nuclear power capacity. This initiative aims to support India's growth towards becoming a developed economy and achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.

Inter-Ministerial Committee

• An inter-ministerial committee consisting of officials from the Department of Atomic Energy and the Ministry of Power will develop strategies to achieve these nuclear energy goals.
• The committee will also include members from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and Nuclear Power Corporation of India.
• The first meeting is scheduled for March 6 in Mumbai.

Key Initiatives and Investments

• The government plans to invest ₹20,000 crore in research and development of small modular reactors (SMRs), aiming to operationalize at least five indigenously developed SMRs by 2033.
• NTPC’s 2,800 MW Mahi Banswara project in Rajasthan is a joint venture with an estimated investment of ₹45,000-50,000 crore.
• NTPC plans to invest around ₹3-4 lakh crore in nuclear power projects over the next 23 years.

Amendments and International Collaborations

• Amendments to the Atomic Energy Act and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act are proposed to encourage private participation.
• Russian nuclear firm Rosatom and France's EDF have shown interest in collaborating with India on nuclear projects, offering expertise in building SMRs.

Public-Private Partnerships

• Private sector involvement has been initiated through public-private partnerships to develop Bharat Small Reactors (BSR).
• The Nuclear Power Corporation of India has called for proposals to set up 220 MW of BSRs.