**Executive Summary**
This document summarizes a meeting between the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Rosatom focused on bilateral cooperation in nuclear energy, particularly regarding small modular reactors (SMRs). It highlights the Budget 2025-26 emphasis on indigenous SMR development and the status of the Bharat Small Reactors (BSR) Request for Proposal (RFP). The deadline for RFP submission has been extended to March 31, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **DAE and Rosatom Cooperation:**
* Meeting focused on furthering bilateral cooperation in nuclear energy.
* Cooperation includes the development of large and small-scale nuclear power plants and the nuclear fuel cycle.
* Focus on localizing equipment production in India and construction of Russian-designed SMRs.
* **Nuclear Energy Mission (Budget 2025-26):**
* Emphasis on the development and deployment of five indigenous SMRs by 2033.
* Outlay of ₹20,000 crore.
* **BARC SMR Development:**
* BARC has initiated design and development works on SMRs:
* 200 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200).
* 55 MWe Small Modular Reactor (SMR-55).
* Up to 5 MWth High-temperature gas-cooled reactor for hydrogen generation.
* Proposed construction of lead units at DAE site for technology demonstration.
* Estimated construction time: 60-72 months after project sanction receipt.
* **Bharat Small Reactors (BSR):**
* NPCIL floated a Request for Proposal (RFP) on December 31, 2024, for captive use by industries.
* A pre-proposal meeting was organized in February 2025.
* Last date for submission of RFP has been extended to March 31, 2026.
* **Atomic Energy Bill 2025:**
* The draft Atomic Energy Bill 2025 is in advanced stages of processing and preparation.
* Comments from various Ministries are being incorporated.
* Vetting by the Ministry of Law and Justice for legal compliances.
* Policy directives of the Government are being incorporated before approvals.
**Impact Analysis**
**Industries**
* **Impact:** Potential opportunity for involvement in the construction of SMRs.
* **Action Required:** Submit RFP for Bharat Small Reactors (BSR) by March 31, 2026.
**Government Ministries (Law & Justice and Others)**
* **Impact:** Required to provide suggestions and legal vetting for the Atomic Energy Bill 2025.
* **Action Required:** Provide final comments and suggestions for the Atomic Energy Bill 2025 to ensure legal compliance and alignment with policy directives.
**DAE and BARC**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the design, development, and demonstration of SMR technology.
* **Action Required:** Continue with design and development of SMRs and construction of lead units after project sanctions.
Key Entities Referenced
Atomic Energy Bill 2025: Draft legislation in advanced stage of preparation regarding atomic energy.
Rosatom: Russian state corporation specializing in nuclear energy, involved in bilateral cooperation with India.
Department of Atomic Energy (DAE): Indian government department responsible for nuclear energy and research.
Nuclear Energy Mission: Initiative announced in Budget 2025-26 focusing on developing and deploying indigenous small modular reactors (SMRs).
Bharat Small Reactor (BSR): Small modular reactors developed by BARC for captive use by industries, with NPCIL issuing a Request for Proposal.
Department of Atomic Energy
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: AGREEMENTS WITH
RUSSIA’S ROSATOM
प्रव तथ: 03 DEC 2025 6:40PM by PIB Delhi
A meeting took place between DAE and Rosatom focused on furthering bilateral cooperation in the field
of nuclear energy, such as development of projects for both large and small-scale nuclear power plants and
cooperation in the nuclear fuel cycle. Particularly, attention was given to opportunities for localizing
equipment production in India. One of the new areas of discussion for cooperation, includes the
construction of small modular reactors (SMRs) of Russian design in India.
In the Budget 2025–26 announcement for the Nuclear Energy Mission, emphasis is on the development
and deployment of five indigenous SMRs by 2033 with an outlay of
₹ 20,000 crore.
BARC has initiated design and development works on SMRs namely,
1. 200 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200),
2. 55 MWe Small Modular Reactor (SMR-55), and
3. Up to 5 MWth High temperature gas cooled reactor meant for hydrogen generation.
It is proposed to construct the lead units of these reactors at DAE site for technology demonstration. The
demonstration reactors are likely to be constructed in 60 to 72 months after receipt of project sanctions.
In respect of Bharat Small Reactors (BSR) for captive use by industries, NPCIL floated a Request for
Proposal (RFP) on December 31, 2024 in line with the business model approved by the Government. A
pre-proposal meeting was organized in February 2025 where queries of the interested industries were
addressed. Clarifications on all the queries raised by various interested industries were compiled and
posted on NPCIL website. Further, based on requests from the industries, the last date for submission of
RFP has been extended to March 31, 2026.
The draft Atomic Energy Bill 2025 is currently in advanced stage of processing and preparation with final
comments and suggestions from various Ministries being progressively incorporated along with
concomitant vetting by Ministry of Law and Justice for legal compliances. Policy directives of the
Government with regard to specific aspects of the Bill are being suitably incorporated before being put up
for approvals.
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