**Executive Summary**
The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) provided an update on proposed and ongoing expansion projects in response to a parliamentary inquiry. It details the status of nuclear power reactors under construction and pre-project activities, including locations, capacities, progress, costs, and expected completion dates. The report also highlights the Government's measures to prevent project overruns, the initiation of focused recruitment by NPCIL, and the establishment of schemes to utilize retired DAE scientists and technologists.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Nuclear Power Reactors Under Implementation**
* Currently, seventeen nuclear power reactors with a total capacity of 13100 MW are under implementation.
* Seven reactors are under construction, and ten are under pre-project activities.
* RAPP-7&8 Unit-7 (700 MW) began commercial operation on 15.04.2025
* **Projects Under Construction / Commissioning:**
* Rajasthan (RAPP-7&8): 2 X 700 MW, 98.60% physical progress, approved cost of ₹22,924 crore, expected completion in 2026.
* Kudankulam (KKNPP-3&4): 2 X 1000 MW, 80.51% physical progress, approved cost of ₹68,893 crore, expected completion in 2027.
* Tamilnadu (KKNPP-5&6): 2 X 1000 MW, 41.56% physical progress, approved cost of ₹68,893 crore, expected completion in 2030.
* Gorakhpur, Haryana (GHAVP-1&2): 2 X 700 MW, civil works in progress, approved cost of ₹20,594 crore, expected completion in 2032.
* **Projects Under Pre-project Activities:**
* Kaiga, Karnataka (Kaiga-5&6): 2 X 700 MW, under pre-project activities, expected to progress likely by 2031-32.
* Gorakhpur (GHAVP-3&4): 2 X 700 MW, under pre-project activities, approved cost of ₹1,05,000 crore, expected to progress likely by 2031-32.
* Chutka (Chutka-1&2): 2 X 700 MW, under pre-project activities, expected to progress likely by 2031-32.
* Mahi Banswara, Rajasthan (Mahi Banswara-1&2, Mahi Banswara-3&4): 2 X 700 MW each, at various stages, being implemented by ASHVINI.
* **BHAVINI Projects:**
* BHAVINI is currently commissioning a 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) project at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu.
* Approval has been granted for pre-project activities for 2 x 500 MWe twin unit of FBR 1&2 project at Kalpakkam.
* **Project Monitoring and Oversight:**
* Project progress is reviewed at multiple levels by NPCIL and DAE.
* BHAVINI conducts weekly review meetings and quarterly reviews by the BHAVINI Board.
* **Manpower and Recruitment:**
* NPCIL has initiated focused recruitment at different levels.
* Recruitment to engage 80 Graduate Engineer Trainees is initiated at ECIL.
* **Utilization of Retired Scientists/Technocrats:**
* The DAE has instituted the "DAE-Raja Ramanna Chair" (DAE-RRC) and the “DAE-Homi Sethna Chair” (DAE-HSC) schemes.
* These schemes aim to utilize the services of active retired scientists, engineers, and technologists.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing and monitoring expansion projects, subject to multiple levels of review.
* **Action Required:** Continue constant monitoring of project activities, take necessary mid-course corrections, and ensure timely implementation of projects.
**Stakeholder:** Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)
* **Impact:** Oversees project progress, initiates recruitment, and utilizes retired scientists.
* **Action Required:** Continue periodic reviews of project progress, implement focused recruitment programs, and manage the DAE-Raja Ramanna Chair and DAE-Homi Sethna Chair schemes.
**Stakeholder:** BHAVINI
* **Impact:** Currently commissioning a 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) project at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu.
* **Action Required:** Conduct weekly and quarterly review meetings.
**Stakeholder:** Retired DAE Scientists, Engineers, and Technologists
* **Impact:** Opportunity to contribute to R&D and policy & planning activities of DAE through the DAE-Raja Ramanna Chair and DAE-Homi Sethna Chair schemes.
* **Action Required:** Participate in R&D, policy & planning studies on the topics as identified by DAE.
Key Entities Referenced
Department of Atomic Energy (DAE): The primary government entity responsible for the development and expansion of atomic energy projects in India.
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL): Responsible for the design, construction, commissioning, and operation of nuclear power plants.
DAE Expansion Projects: Refers to all expansion projects under Department of Atomic Energy. Includes details and status of proposed and ongoing expansion projects.
DAE-Raja Ramanna Chair (DAE-RRC): A national-level scheme instituted by the DAE to utilize the services of active retired scientists, engineers, and technologists.
DAE-Homi Sethna Chair (DAE-HSC): A scheme by the Department to utilize the services of retired scientists, engineers and technologists to carry out R&D, policy and planning studies.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO – 826
ANSWERED ON 04.02.2026
DAE EXPANSION PROJECTS
826. SHRI PARSHOTTAMBHAI RUPALA
Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-
(a) the details and current status of all proposed and ongoing expansion projects of the
Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) including subordinate units, Boards and PSUs with
approved costs and capacity targets, project-wise;
(b) whether the Government has reviewed timelines for timely completion of these projects
and adopted measures to prevent time and cost overruns and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether DAE has assessed current and future requirements of scientific and technical
manpower and initiated focused recruitment and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government proposes to utilise the expertise of retired DAE scientists and
technocrats to strengthen execution and achieve timely completion of these strategic
initiatives and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) (a) At present, seventeen nuclear power reactors with a total capacity of 13100 MW are
under implementation comprising of seven nuclear reactors under construction and ten
rectors under pre-project activities. The details are as under:
Location Project Capacity Physical Approved Expected
(MW) Progress Cost (Rs. Completi
in crore) on
Projects Under Construction / Commissioning
Rajasthan RAPP-7$&8 2 X 700 98.60 22,924 2026
Kudankulam, KKNPP-3&4 2 X 1000 80.51 68,893 2027
Tamilnadu KKNPP-5&6 2 X 1000 41.56 68,893 2030
Civil
Gorakhpur, GHAVP-1&2
2 X 700 works in 20,594 2032
Haryana
progress
Projects Under Pre-project Activities
Kaiga, Kaiga-5&6 Under
2 X 700 Progress
Karnataka pre-
1,05,000 ively by
project
Gorakhpur, GHAVP– 3&4 2 X 700
2031-32
activities
HCharuytkana,a Chutka-1&2 2 X 700
Madhya
PradeshMahi Banswara- 2 X 700 at various
Mahi
1&2* stages
Mahi Banswara-
Banswara,
3&4* 2 X 700
Rajasthan
$ Unit-7 (700 MW) of RAPP-7&8 began commercial operation on 15.04.2025
* Mahi Banswara-1&2 and Mahi Banswara-3&4 being implemented by ASHVINI, a
Joint Venture of NPCIL and NTPC.
(b) BHAVINI is currently commissioning a 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor
(PFBR) project at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. Government has accorded approval to carry
out pre-project activities for 2 x 500 MWe twin unit of FBR 1&2 project at Kalpakkam,
Tamil Nadu. On attaining first criticality of PFBR, Government will be approached for
financial sanction of FBR 1 & 2 projects.
(b) (a) Yes. The progress of projects is reviewed at multiple levels in Nuclear Power
Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and also by Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)
periodically. Constant monitoring of progress of project activities at multiple levels, timely
identification of constraints & making necessary mid-course corrections, frequent meetings
with vendors/ contractors and re-sequencing of construction activities to the extent possible,
are being taken to ensure the timely implementation of the projects.
(b) BHAVINI has the following institutional mechanism for monitoring the project
progress; Weekly review meetings at Unit level along with designers is being conducted
to review the progress in commissioning and for better resource pooling. The project is
also reviewed by BHAVINI Board on quarterly basis. These reviews help in reallocation
of resources, quick decision making and expediting the project.
(c) Yes, NPCIL has initiated focused recruitment at different levels considering the
requirements of the expansion programme and timelines involved in recruitment, training
and licensing of personnel. Recruitment to engage 80 Graduate Engineer Trainees is
initiated at ECIL.
(d) Department of Atomic Energy has instituted a national level scheme known as “DAE-Raja
Ramanna Chair” (DAE-RRC) which is intended to utilize the services of active retired
scientists, engineers and technologists, who have been involved in high quality research in
their specialized disciplines in the units of the DAE or any National Laboratory or
University or Institute and who after retirement are keen to carry out R&D and studies on
the topics as identified by DAE.The department has also instituted “DAE-Homi Sethna Chair” (DAE-HSC) which is
intended to utilize the services of active retired scientists, engineers and technologists, who
have been involved in high quality research in their specialized disciplines in the units of
the DAE and who after retirement are keen to carry out R&D, policy & planning studies on
the topics as identified by DAE.
The objective of the schemes is to gainfully utilize the services of active retired scientists,
engineers and technologists who have worked in the areas of critical and sensitive
technologies and who can constructively contribute in a regular manner to the research
projects, policy and planning activities of DAE as per the topics identified by the
department.
Additionally, the DAE-RRC fellowship holders could take up writing of monographs or
books on topics related to Atomic Energy and the DAE-HSC awardees will work on critical
subject matters or projects and carry out studies on policy issues with the objective of
providing to the Department, a detailed analysis within a prescribed time period.
****