Why in the News
- Government has accelerated Nuclear Energy Mission with ₹20,000 crore allocation for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) development and a long-term goal of 100 GW nuclear capacity.
Budget Allocation
- ₹20,000 crore announced in Budget 2026
- Focus:
- Research
- Design
- Development
- Deployment of SMRs
Key Institutions Involved
- Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)
- Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)
- Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL)
Types of SMRs Being Developed
1. BSMR-200 (Bharat SMR)
- Capacity: 220 MWe
- Jointly developed by: BARC + NPCIL
- Construction timeline: 60–72 months
2. SMR-55
- Capacity: 55 MWe
3. HTGCR (High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor)
- Capacity: Up to 5 MWth
- Use: Hydrogen production
| [2023] Consider the following statements: Statement-I: India, despite having uranium deposits, depends on coal for most of its electricity production. Statement-II: Uranium, enriched to the extent of at least 60%, is required for the production of electricity. Which one of the following is correct? (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I (c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect (d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct |
