How India’s nuclear vision supports a sustainable tomorrow

Significance of nuclear energy for India 

India’s renewable energy sector has made significant strides in recent years. Its renewable energy capacity crossed the 200 GW milestone as of October 2024, representing a 13.5 per cent year-on-year increase. This includes 92 GW of solar power, 52 GW of Hydro power, 48 GW of wind energy and 11 GW of bio-energy. 

This achievement aligns with India’s broader climate and energy security goals. However, it is also increasingly evident that solar and wind energy alone may not suffice to meet India’s ever-increasing energy needs. These sources are inherently intermittent and seasonal and have spatial restrictions.

In this context, nuclear energy emerges as a critical complement to renewable energy in ensuring long-term energy security. Nuclear power provides high-capacity, base-load electricity with minimal carbon emissions, operating independently of weather and seasonal fluctuation. India has set an ambitious target to increase nuclear capacity to 22,800 MW by 2031-32 and 100 GW by 2047. A diversified energy portfolio is a strategic necessity for India’s development and energy independence. 

India’s nuclear journey 

The nuclear journey of India began with a vision of self-reliance and peaceful use of nuclear technology. The foundation of nuclear research and development was laid with the establishment of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in 1945, and of the Department of Atomic Energy and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in 1954. In the 1960s, India’s nuclear power stations began operations in Tarapur and Rajasthan with the help of the US and Canada. 

However, the 1962 Sino-Indian War, followed by China’s testing of its first atomic bomb in 1964, served as a wake-up call for India, prompting a shift in its nuclear policy. In 1968, India refused to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) on the grounds that it was discriminatory to countries except the P-5.

India’s first nuclear test in 1974, Pokhran I, was a turning point. It drew significant criticism from many countries, and led to the formation of the 48-nation Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) to restrict nuclear trade. India, being outside the NPT, was denied access to nuclear technology for decades. However, India continued to develop its indigenous nuclear technology and maintained a consistent policy of nuclear responsibility. 

Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visits the site of the nuclear explosion at Pokhran in Rajasthan in 1974. (Express archive photo)

In 1996, India refused to sign the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) on the grounds that its being largely focused on horizontal non-proliferation rather than on disarmament. The Pokhran II nuclear test in 1998, alongside its refusal to sign the CTBT, isolated India. But to meet its growing energy demand, it needed to increase its nuclear capacity.  

123 agreement and NSG waiver

After Pokhran II, India declared its ‘No-First-Use’ policy along with Non-Use against Non-Nuclear Weapons States and Minimum Nuclear Deterrence. India also established the Nuclear Command Authority and the Strategic Forces Command, which institutionalised nuclear control in India. This helped India to build trust in its nuclear policy and diplomacy.

A major turning point came with the India-US Civil Nuclear agreement (123 Agreement) in 2005. It is a bilateral accord on civil nuclear co-operation between India and the US under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act, 1954 of the US. This acknowledged India’s non-proliferation record, and following this NSG granted India a waiver in 2008 allowing it to engage in civil nuclear trade without signing the NPT. 

To meet the NSG waiver conditions, India voluntarily separated its civilian and military nuclear programmes and signed an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to place its civilian reactors (those using imported uranium for civilian purposes) under international safeguards. The agreement allows the agency to inspect and verify the peaceful use of nuclear material in designated facilities. 

Following this, India has joined three major export control regimes- the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Australia Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement. However, its bid for NSG membership remains inconclusive, with countries like China insisting that only NPT signatories should be considered for NSG membership. 

Present nuclear capacity and future targets

India currently has 24 nuclear reactors in operation, most of which use the pressurised Heavy Water reactor (PHWR) design, with a total generation of around 8180 megawatts of electricity. These reactors are largely run by the government-owned Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). 

In the union budget of 2025-2026, the government launched ‘Nuclear Energy Mission (NEM) for Viksit Bharat’ with a target of achieving 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047. It has been envisioned with the purpose of achieving energy independence, and helping India to meet its climate targets by developing indigenous capabilities, public-private partnership, and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). A budget of Rs 20,000 crores has been allocated to develop SMRs. 

Moreover, a combination of indigenous pressurised heavy water reactors, fast breeder reactors, and the exploration of SMR nuclear energy would help India bridge the gap left by renewables and support its transition to a stable, low-carbon economy. 

Strengthening India’s nuclear future 

Currently, India’s nuclear aspirations face challenges, both global and domestic. One of the most crucial challenges is the membership of the NSG, limiting its access to advanced nuclear technology.

Domestically, the nuclear sector continues to attract very limited private and foreign investment. The foremost reason has been the regulatory and legal bar under India’s nuclear laws. The Atomic Energy Act, 1962, grants the Indian government exclusive power over nuclear power generation and control, leaving no room for private or foreign players. 

Apart from this, the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, imposed supplier liability in case of a nuclear accident, diverging from global norms. This has deterred major foreign suppliers and investors who view the risk exposures as too high. To overcome this, the Government has expressed its intention to amend the nuclear law and relax the regulations. 

Incorporating nuclear energy into India’s clean energy mix not only supports decarbonisation goals but also reduces dependence on imported fossil fuels. This is particularly significant in view of the country’s growing industrial and urban energy needs. With required reforms and technological advancement, nuclear energy is emerging as a reliable, low-carbon pillar of India’s energy security. 

If managed wisely, it will not only support the vision of Viksit Bharat but also position India as a global leader in sustainable nuclear technology, steering the country towards a cleaner, self-reliant future.

Post read questions

Why is the nuclear agreement between India and the US called the 123 Agreement? Discuss the benefits India gained from doing this agreement.

How does India’s nuclear vision support the dual objectives of decarbonisation and energy security in the context of Viksit Bharat?

How can India leverage technological innovation, such as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), to overcome spatial and financial constraints in nuclear deployment?

Evaluate the role of indigenous technologies like Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) and Fast Breeder Reactors in India’s nuclear roadmap.

In addition to supporting the vision of Viksit Bharat, nuclear energy has the potential to position India as a global leader in sustainable nuclear technology and steer it towards a cleaner, self-reliant future. Evaluate.

(Renuka is a Doctoral researcher at Himachal Pradesh National law university, Shimla.)

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