Nuclear Energy for India’s Inclusive Development

 

 

1. India’s nuclear power programme began commercial operation with the Tarapur Atomic Power Station in 1969.

2. India operates 24 nuclear power reactors at seven sites, with a total installed capacity of 8.78 gigawatts (GW).

3. Nine nuclear reactors are under construction, while preparations are underway for 10 additional units.

4. The Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat aims to achieve 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047.

5. The Union Budget 2025–26 allocated ₹20,000 crore for the development of indigenous Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

6. The SHANTI Act, 2025 strengthens the framework for the safe, secure and future-oriented expansion of India’s nuclear energy programme.

7. In FY 2025–26, one GW of nuclear capacity avoided around 5.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.

8. Since 1969, India’s nuclear programme has cumulatively avoided about 851 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.

9. Nuclear technology supports healthcare through radiopharmaceuticals, medical imaging, cancer treatment and sterilisation of medical devices.

10. In FY 2024–25, Tata Memorial Centre registered about 1.3 lakh patients and screened around five lakh women for oral, breast and cervical cancers.

11. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has developed 70 crop varieties through radiation-induced mutagenesis and cross-breeding, including TBM-9 banana and RTS-43 sorghum.

12. India commissioned six gamma radiation-processing facilities in 2025, taking the total number of operational food-irradiation facilities to 40.

13. India’s first Certified Reference Material for rare earth elements is Ferrocarbonatite (FC)–BARC B1401; it is the fourth such material globally.

14. India established its first electronics-grade Boron-11 Enrichment Facility at Talcher, producing Boron-11 with 99.8% purity for semiconductor applications.

15. Indian nuclear plants follow the Defence in Depth philosophy, with multiple physical barriers, independent shutdown and cooling systems, continuous radiation monitoring, emergency plans and AERB oversight.

 

 

Must Know Terms :

 

 

 

1.Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)

 

Small nuclear reactors designed for factory-based manufacturing and phased deployment. India’s Union Budget 2025–26 allocated ₹20,000 crore for indigenous SMR development.

 

2. Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR)

 

A reactor that uses heavy water as moderator and coolant, and natural uranium as fuel. PHWRs form the backbone of India’s indigenous nuclear-power programme and have two independent shutdown systems.

 

3. Defence in Depth

 

A nuclear safety principle based on multiple, independent layers of protection. It includes robust design, physical containment barriers, automatic shutdown systems, emergency cooling and backup power.

 

4. Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB)

 

India’s nuclear-safety regulator. It lays down safety standards, grants regulatory approvals, conducts inspections and oversees radiation protection and radioactive-waste management.

 

5. As Low as Reasonably Achievable (ALARA)

 

A radiation-protection principle that requires radiation exposure to be kept as low as reasonably achievable through shielding, safe work practices, monitoring and protective equipment.

 

6. Vitrification

 

A process used for high-level radioactive waste management. It converts radioactive waste into stable glass blocks for safe long-term storage and disposal.

 

 

 

MCQ :

 

 

1. The Tarapur Atomic Power Station began commercial operation in:

(a) 1956

(b) 1969

(c) 1974

(d) 1984

2. India currently operates how many nuclear power reactors?

(a) 22

(b) 24

(c) 27

(d) 30

3. With reference to India’s nuclear power programme, consider the following statements:

1. India operates nuclear reactors across seven sites.
2. The total installed nuclear capacity is 8.78 GW.
3. Nine reactors are under construction.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

4. The Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat aims to achieve nuclear power capacity of:

(a) 50 GW by 2030

(b) 75 GW by 2040

(c) 100 GW by 2047

(d) 175 GW by 2070

5. The Union Budget 2025–26 allocated ₹20,000 crore primarily for:

(a) Indigenous Small Modular Reactors

(b) Import of uranium fuel

(c) Expansion of coal-based power plants

(d) Construction of hydroelectric dams

6. With reference to nuclear power and carbon emissions, consider the following statements:

1. One GW of nuclear capacity avoided around 5.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions in FY 2025–26.
2. Since 1969, India’s nuclear programme has cumulatively avoided about 851 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

7. Which one of the following is not an application of nuclear technology?

(a) Radiopharmaceutical production

(b) Food irradiation

(c) Crop improvement

(d) Refining crude oil into petrol

8. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has developed crop varieties using:

(a) Radiation-induced mutagenesis and cross-breeding

(b) Only genetic cloning

(c) Only organic farming methods

(d) Marine aquaculture techniques

9. Which one of the following is correctly matched?

(a) TBM-9 — Banana

(b) RTS-43 — Wheat

(c) BARC B1401 — Electronics-grade boron

(d) Talcher Facility — Food irradiation plant

10. In 2025, India commissioned six gamma radiation-processing facilities, taking the total number of operational facilities to:

(a) 24

(b) 30

(c) 40

(d) 70

11. Ferrocarbonatite (FC)–BARC B1401 is India’s first Certified Reference Material for:

(a) Medical isotopes

(b) Rare earth elements

(c) Nuclear fuel pellets

(d) Heavy water

12. India’s first electronics-grade Boron-11 Enrichment Facility is located at:

(a) Kalpakkam

(b) Tarapur

(c) Trombay

(d) Talcher

13. Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) use:

(a) Heavy water as moderator and coolant, and natural uranium as fuel

(b) Light water as moderator and enriched uranium as fuel

(c) Graphite as moderator and thorium as the only fuel

(d) Liquid sodium as coolant and plutonium as the only fuel

14. The principle of Defence in Depth in nuclear safety refers to:

(a) Disposal of radioactive waste only in deep geological formations

(b) Deployment of armed forces around nuclear plants

(c) Multiple independent layers of protection against accidents

(d) Underground construction of all nuclear reactors

15. Vitrification is a technology used to:

(a) Enrich uranium for reactor fuel

(b) Convert high-level radioactive waste into stable glass blocks

(c) Produce heavy water for PHWRs

(d) Sterilise medical devices using gamma radiation