PARLIAMENT QUESTION: NUCLEAR ENERGY MISSION & BHARAT SMALL MODULAR REACTORS

Under the Nuclear Energy Mission announced in the Union Budget 2025–26, Rs 20,000 crore has been earmarked for the design, development and deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) with a target to operationalise at least five indigenous SMRs by 2033. BARC is developing three demonstration units – the 220 MWe BSMR‑200, the 55 MWe SMR‑55 and a 5 MWth High‑Temperature Gas‑Cooled Reactor (HTGCR) for hydrogen production – each having received in‑principle engineering and construction approvals and site clearances (Tarapur for BSMR‑200 and SMR‑55; BARC Vizag for HTGCR). The recently enacted SHANTI 2025 Act aims to broaden participation of public and private entities to achieve a 100 GW nuclear power capacity by 2047. Indigenous technology, including advanced reactor vessel alloys and critical components, is being developed with Indian industry support.