Why in the news?
India’s first indigenous Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu has attained criticality, marking a major milestone in India’s three stage nuclear programme.
What is Criticality
Criticality means:
- Self sustaining nuclear chain reaction begins
- Reactor core working as designed
- Step before electricity generation
- Capacity: 500 MWe reactor
What is Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR)
- Produces more fuel than it consumes
- Uses:
- Uranium plutonium MOX fuel
- Uranium 238 blanket to produce more fuel
- This process called: Nuclear transmutation
India’s Three Stage Nuclear Programme
- Stage 1
- Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR)
- Fuel: Natural uranium
- Stage 2
- Fast Breeder Reactors (FBR)
- Produces plutonium
- Stage 3
- Thorium based reactors
- India has large thorium reserves
Why This is Important
- India to become 2nd country after Russia
- Indigenous nuclear technology
- Strengthens energy security
- Moves India toward thorium based energy
| [2022] With reference to India, consider the following statements: 1. Monazite is a source of rare earths. 2. Monazite contains thorium. 3. Monazite occurs naturally in the entire Indian coastal sands in India. 4. In India, Government bodies only can process or export monazite.” Which of the statements given above are correct? [A] 1, 2 and 3 only [B] 1, 2 and 4 only [C] 3 and 4 only [D] 1, 2, 3 and 4 |
