Key facts
- India plans to build five domestically developed small modular reactors by 2033.
- The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre is working on a 220-MW Bharat Small Modular Reactor, a 55-MW reactor, and a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor.
- India's nuclear energy roadmap targets 22 GW of installed capacity by fiscal year 2031-32, up from 8.78 GW.
- The long-term goal is to reach 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047.
- A recent Atomic Energy Bill permits private companies to invest in India's nuclear energy industry.
India is accelerating its nuclear power expansion plans, with a goal to domestically build five small modular reactors (SMRs) by 2033. India’s Atomic Energy Minister, Jitendra Singh, stated that these SMRs are part of a broader strategy to significantly increase nuclear power capacity over the next two decades.
The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), a leading nuclear research institution, is currently developing several SMR designs, including a 220-MW Bharat Small Modular Reactor, a 55-MW reactor, and a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor intended for hydrogen production. These advancements align with India's nuclear energy roadmap.
According to the minister's reply to lawmakers, India aims to increase its installed nuclear power capacity from the current 8.78 gigawatts (GW) to approximately 22 GW by the 2031-32 fiscal year. The long-term vision is to achieve 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047, a substantial increase from the present levels. Achieving this ambitious target will require an estimated 19.28 trillion Indian rupees, equivalent to about $200 billion at current exchange rates, according to a report by a panel set up by India’s power ministry.
Further supporting this expansion, India's Atomic Energy Bill, approved at the end of 2025, permits private companies to invest in the nuclear energy sector for the first time. This legislation, referred to as the SHANTI (Sustainable Harnessing of Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India) Act, is expected to attract significant private investment. State-owned NTPC Ltd, India's largest utility and currently the sole nuclear power generator, is projected to contribute 30% of the new nuclear power capacity installations by 2047. To support this growth, NTPC is actively seeking stakes in uranium assets globally to ensure a stable fuel supply for its expanding nuclear operations.