Nuclear Power Expansion is an RD Challenge

Brief Context

Published on: 27 January, 2026 The draft National Electricity Policy aims to align the power sector with India’s long-term energy goals.

Source Content

Syllabus: GS3/Energy Sector

Context

• The draft National Electricity Policy aims to align the power sector with India’s long-term energy goals. 

About

• The Draft NEP 2026 is a proposed revision of India’s existing National Electricity Policy (initially notified in 2005). 

• It supports India’s target of reducing emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 (compared to 2005).
  • The policy strongly promotes nuclear energy as a clean, stable, non-weather-dependent power source.
  • India plans a 10-fold increase in nuclear power capacity by 2047.
• It supports new technologies like Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which are safer, smaller, and can be set up near factories and cities.
• Thorium Based Energy: India depends on imported uranium, so the policy stresses developing thorium-based nuclear energy, where India has large reserves.
  • The main challenge is boosting research and technology to make thorium energy practical.

Need to Increase Nuclear Capacity

• Nuclear Capacity Goal: India’s plans to increase its nuclear power capacity from the current 8,180 MW to 22,480 MW by 2031-32 and eventually 100 GW by 2047. 
• Energy Demand Growth: India’s electricity demand is expected to increase 4-5 times by 2047, and nuclear power will help meet base-load demand alongside renewables.
• India’s Targets: To reduce the emission intensity of its GDP by 44% by 2030 from the 2005 level.
  • To achieve 50% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030.

Challenges 

• Limited Indigenous Experience: India’s nuclear programme has historically focused on Pressurized heavy-water reactor (PHWRs) and fast breeder reactors, leading to limited domestic expertise in Light Water Reactor (LWR) design and operation.

• Limited domestic uranium: India has low-grade and limited uranium reserves, forcing dependence on imports.
  • Long-term nuclear expansion needs assured fuel supply agreements with foreign countries.
• High capital cost: Nuclear plants require huge upfront investment and long construction periods.
• Technological constraints: Advanced technologies like Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are still at an early stage in India.
• Safety and public concerns: Fear of nuclear accidents leads to local opposition and delays in projects.
• Thorium utilisation gap: Though India has large thorium reserves, commercial technology is still under development.

Government Initiatives

• Nuclear Energy Mission & Capacity Targets: The Government has launched a Nuclear Energy Mission aimed at expanding nuclear power capacity to about 100 GW by 2047.
  • This mission emphasises enhancing domestic capabilities and adopting advanced technologies.
• Indigenous Reactor Development: Such as Bharat Small Reactors are under development to support scalable deployment.
  • While these are PHWR and SMR variants, they lay the groundwork for a broader nuclear innovation ecosystem.
• Three-Stage Nuclear Power Programme: India has a long-term strategy to utilise India’s thorium reserves through PHWRs, Fast Breeder Reactors and thorium-based reactors.
• SHANTI Act, 2025: It enables capacity expansion, advanced reactor technologies and wider participation in nuclear power generation.
• Research & Development Funding: The Union Budget 2025-26 allocated significant funding (around ₹20,000 crores) for R&D in advanced nuclear technologies.
• International Cooperation & Tech Access: The government is working on international partnerships and technology transfer mechanisms that can help bridge experience gaps in technologies.

Conclusion

• India is all set for transformative and multi-dimensional growth of clean and renewable energy sources; however, India should accelerate R&D on thorium reactors by strengthening industry collaboration with the stakeholders.
• India can develop pilot and demonstration projects to move thorium technology from lab to commercial scale.
• Nuclear energy can give India clean, secure and indigenous power, but only sustained R&D, policy support and institutional commitment can unlock its full potential.

Source: IE