India Targets Five Small Modular Nuclear Reactors by 2033
- IBEF
- July 24, 2026
India is accelerating the expansion of its nuclear energy programme with plans to operationalise five indigenous Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) by 2033, supporting the country's long-term clean energy and energy security objectives. In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State in the Department of Atomic Energy Dr. Jitendra Singh stated that the enactment of the Small Modular Reactor and Hydrogen Initiative for Nuclear Technology (SHANTI) Act, 2025 has opened the nuclear energy sector to private participation, creating new opportunities for investment, innovation and technology development. He further highlighted that the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is developing a 220 MW Bharat Small Modular Reactor, a 55 MW Small Modular Reactor, and a High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor designed for hydrogen production, strengthening India's indigenous nuclear technology capabilities and supporting the transition towards low-carbon energy systems.
The initiative forms part of the Nuclear Energy Mission, under which the Government has outlined a roadmap to achieve 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047. According to the roadmap, India's installed nuclear power capacity is expected to increase from the current 8.78 GW to around 22 GW by 2031-32, as projects under various stages of implementation are progressively commissioned. The expansion of nuclear power is expected to diversify India's energy mix, enhance energy security and provide reliable, low-carbon electricity to support industrial growth and rising energy demand. Increased private sector participation, indigenous reactor development and advanced nuclear technologies are also expected to strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities, generate high-skilled employment and reinforce India's position as a global leader in clean and sustainable energy technologies.
Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.
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