Nuclear power refers to the generation of electricity through controlled nuclear fission reactions, where heavy atomic nuclei such as uranium are split to release large amounts of energy. It is a crucial source of clean, reliable base-load energy that complements India’s net-zero target by 2070 and sustainable energy security.

About Mahi Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Nuclear Power Project (MBRAPP)

• Location: Banswara, Rajasthan near the Mahi Dam on River Mahi.
• Capacity: 4 x 700 MWe PHWR (4 nuclear power units of Indigenous PHWRs (Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors)).
• Development: By Anushakti Vidhyut Nigam (ASHVINI), a joint venture between Nuclear Power Corporation India Limited (NPCIL) and National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC).
• The project is part of India’s “fleet mode” initiative.  

Nuclear Energy Profile of India

• Total Installed Nuclear Capacity: ~ 8,780 MW (approx.)
• The government plans to increase this to 22,480 MW by 2031-32.

• Share in Electricity Generation: ~3.1%
• Number of Operational Reactors: 24 nuclear reactors across 7 power plants (7^th globally)
• Managed primarily by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited

Nuclear Energy Resources in India

India’s nuclear resource base is characterised by a paradox of limited uranium (Scarce (~70,000–180,000 tonnes, low-grade, geographically concentrated) but abundant thorium(~25–30%), which has fundamentally shaped its long-term nuclear strategy. India’s nuclear programme is designed to transition from uranium → plutonium → thorium-based fuel cycle.

Major Uranium Deposits & Regions

The uranium ore mining and processing industry of the country began at Jaduguda in 1968

1.      Jharkhand (Core Belt): Singhbhum Thrust Belt. First discovery of Jaduguda (1951)
Major mines:  Jaduguda ; Bhatin ; Narwapahar ; Turamdih

2.      Andhra Pradesh: Cuddapah Basin (Tummalapalle – one of the largest reserves)

3.      Meghalaya: Mahadek Basin Domiasiat , Wahkyn , Mawsynram

4.      Other Potential Areas: Rajasthan; Karnataka; Chhattisgarh

5.      India relies on imports from: Kazakhstan; Canada; Australia; Russia; Uzbekistan

Thorium Resources in India

Although India holds one of the largest thorium reserves globally, found mainly in monazite sands (placer deposits) but it is not directly usable as fuel and requires conversion to U-233

·         Major Regions: Kerala (highest concentration) ; Tamil Nadu ; Odisha ; Andhra Pradesh

·         Other Locations: Bihar; Jharkhand

Common Types of Nuclear Reactors Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR):: This is the most widely used reactor type where light water is used as both coolant and moderator under high pressure  and a separate secondary loop is used to generate steam for electricity production. Boiling Water Reactor (BWR): In this reactor, water is allowed to boil directly inside the reactor vessel to produce steam, which then drives the turbine, making the design simpler.Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR / CANDU): This type of reactor uses heavy water as both coolant and moderator, which allows it to operate using natural uranium without enrichment. (most used reactor type in India)Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor (AGR): This reactor uses graphite as a moderator and carbon dioxide gas as a coolant, enabling higher operating temperatures and improved efficiency. Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR): This reactor uses fast neutrons instead of slow (thermal) neutrons, which enables it to generate more fissile material (such as plutonium) than it consumes, making it important for long-term fuel sustainability.

 Nuclear Power Plants in India

A. Operational Nuclear Power Plants

Plant	State	Type	Capacity (Approx.)
Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS)	Maharashtra	BWR + PHWR	~1400 MW
Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS, Rawatbhata)	Rajasthan	PHWR	~1180 MW
Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS)	Gujarat	PHWR (700 MW units)	~1140 MW
Kaiga Generating Station	Karnataka	PHWR	~880 MW
Narora Atomic Power Station	Uttar Pradesh	PHWR	~440 MW
Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP)	Tamil Nadu	VVER (PWR)	~2000 MW
Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS, Kalpakkam)	Tamil Nadu	PHWR	~440 MW

Under Construction

Project	State	Type	Remarks
Kakrapar Units 3 & 4	Gujarat	PHWR (700 MW)	Indigenous design
Rajasthan Units 7 & 8	Rajasthan	PHWR (700 MW)	Fleet mode
Kudankulam Units 3–6	Tamil Nadu	VVER	Russian collaboration
Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana	Haryana	PHWR	New site
Mahi Banswara Raj Atomic Power Project	Rajasthan	PHWR	Recently approved

C. Planned / Proposed Projects

Project	State	Type	Partner
Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project	Maharashtra	EPR (1600 MW)	France
Kovvada Nuclear Power Project	Andhra Pradesh	AP1000	USA
Chutka Nuclear Power Project	Madhya Pradesh	PHWR	Indigenous

Institutional, Legal and Policy Framework

Legal Framework

The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act consolidated and replaced the earlier:

• Atomic Energy Act, 1962 → Gave Central government the monopoly in nuclear energy
• Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 → provision of Supplier liability

SHANTI Act, 2025: Key Legal Shifts

• End of State Monopoly: For the first time, the law allows private and foreign entities to hold up to 49% equity in civilian nuclear projects. Previously, only the government or its PSUs (like NPCIL) could own and operate plants.
• Liability Overhaul: The Act removed the “Right of Recourse” against suppliers that had long deterred foreign companies (like Westinghouse or GE). It moved toward the international standard of Exclusive Operator Liability, where the plant operator is primarily responsible, backed by the Indian Nuclear Insurance Pool.
• Graded Liability Caps: Instead of a flat rate, liability is now tiered based on reactor size. Smaller units (like SMRs) have lower liability caps, making them more financially viable for private players.

 Key Institutions

1. Department of Atomic Energy (DAE): set up under the direct charge of the Prime Minister through a Presidential Order on August 3, 1954. It is the apex body responsible for executing policies, managing R&D, and strategic control over nuclear energy.
2. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC): First established in 1948, then restructured within DAE on March 1, 1958, it is the governing body that Formulates policies for all nuclear energy matters in India.
3. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) & BHAVINI: Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). While NPCIL operates Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), BHAVINI was created as a special-purpose vehicle (SPV) to specifically develop, build, and operate FBR technology.
4. Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB): It was constituted in 1983 by the President of India to carry out certain regulatory and safety functions under the Act. It has now been given statutory status (under SHANTI Act) to function as an autonomous nuclear safety regulator to ensure global safety standards.
5. Nuclear Liability Fund (NLF): A new state-managed fund created to cover damages exceeding the operator’s insurance cap.

Major Policy Initiatives

1. The Nuclear Energy Mission (NEM) – Launched in the 2025-26 Budget with an initial outlay of ₹20,000 crore, this mission focuses on:
2. Bharat Small Reactors (BSR):  indigenous 220 MWe PHWR developed by India’s BARC and NPCIL to ensure standardized, factory-built units for industrial “captive” power (e.g., steel and aluminum plants).
3. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs): advanced nuclear reactors with a power capacity of up to 300 MW (e) per unit. Mission aims to deploy SMRs at the sites of retired coal plants, utilizing existing grid infrastructure.
4. Three-Stage Nuclear Program – formulated by Homi J. Bhabha in the 1950s (Father of India’s Nuclear Program), aims to secure long-term energy independence by utilizing the country’s vast thorium reserves. It uses a closed fuel cycle, progressing from natural uranium in PHWRs (stage – I) to plutonium-based FBRs (stage – II) and finally to thorium-based reactors (stage – III).
5. Fleet Mode Initiative –  Strategic approach by the Government of India to construct 10 indigenous 700 MW PHWRs simultaneously, aiming for faster & cost-effective deployment

Fiscal & Trade Measures

• Customs Duty Exemptions: Duties slashed to 0% on critical nuclear components
• Green Bond Financing: Nuclear projects are now officially eligible for “Green Bonds,” 
• Brownfield Expansion: Policy now prioritizes adding new reactors to existing “Nuclear Parks” (like Kudankulam and Jaitapur) to bypass land acquisition delays.

International Cooperation

Under the new legal regime, India is moving beyond its traditional reliance on Russia:

• US & France: The removal of the “supplier liability” hurdle has revived stalled projects with EDF (Jaitapur) and Westinghouse (Kovvada).
• Global Supply Chain: India is positioning itself as a manufacturing hub for SMR components, seeking to export “Bharat” reactor technology to the Global South.

 Going forward, nuclear energy can emerge as a reliable pillar of India’s low-carbon growth strategy, provided reforms are complemented by strong regulatory oversight, innovation in reactor technology, and effective public engagement, ensuring both energy security and environmental sustainability