Paper: GS – III, Subject: Science & Technology, Topic: Nuclear Technology, Issue: India Nuclear Programme Expansion: Self-Reliance with Safety.
Context:
Recently, India reaffirmed its target of achieving 100 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power capacity by 2047. The 2008 India-US civil nuclear deal ended restrictions on importing uranium, but the NSG waiver permanently bars transfer of enrichment and reprocessing technology to India. This has renewed debate over imported reactors versus indigenous technology, as India must expand nuclear energy without weakening safety or strategic autonomy.
Key Takeaways:
India’s three-stage nuclear power programme:
| Enriched uranium is natural uranium artificially processed to increase its concentration of fissile uranium-235 above the natural 0.7% level, making it usable as reactor or weapons fuel. |
Explanation:
Growth of Indigenous Capacity:
- International restrictions after India’s 1974 nuclear test limited access to foreign fuel and technology.
- These restrictions pushed India to design and manufacture reactors domestically, through partnerships between the Atomic Energy Commission and Indian firms.
- India scaled up from 200-megawatt to 500-megawatt and 700-megawatt PHWR units, reducing costs over time.
Importance of Self-Reliance:
- Indigenous reactors reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and support skilled jobs and manufacturing.
- They give India greater control over maintenance, fuel use and expansion, even while importing uranium under the civil deal.
- This strengthens energy security and strategic autonomy.
Need for New Technologies:
- India should develop its own Light Water Reactors (LWRs), which use enriched uranium and are common worldwide.
- The NSG waiver’s permanent restriction on enrichment technology makes indigenous LWR development necessary.
- Small Modular Reactors (SMRs – 300 Mwe) can serve industries, remote areas and data centres, while thorium and breeder reactor research continues.
Safety and Expansion Challenges:
- Nuclear plants require large investment, long construction periods, and careful waste management.
- The Chernobyl disaster showed how one accident can damage public trust for decades.
- New entrants may lack operating experience, so rapid expansion must not dilute safety culture.
Way Forward:
- Indigenous PHWRs should form the base of near-term expansion, with new entrants starting small and scaling gradually.
- Independent safety audits and stable support for domestic research and training are essential.
Conclusion:
Nuclear energy can strengthen India’s energy security and support low-carbon growth. Indigenous technology offers lower dependence and greater strategic control. Ambition must be matched by strict regulation and careful expansion, so self-reliance, safety and public trust progress together.
Source: (The Hindu)
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