**Executive Summary**
This document, posted on February 4, 2024, by PIB Delhi, outlines the Department of Atomic Energy's (DAE) expansion projects. Seventeen nuclear power reactors are under implementation, comprising seven under construction and ten in pre-project stages, with a total capacity of 13100 MW. The document details the location, project name, capacity, physical progress, approved cost, and expected completion dates for each reactor.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Nuclear Reactor Projects Under Implementation:**
* Seventeen nuclear power reactors are under implementation with a total capacity of 13100 MW.
* Seven reactors are under construction/commissioning, and ten are in pre-project activities.
* **Projects Under Construction / Commissioning:**
* Rajasthan: RAPP-7&8 (2 X 700 MW), 98.60% physical progress, Approved cost Rs. 22,924 crore, expected completion in 2026. Unit-7 began commercial operation on 15.04.2025.
* Kudankulam, Tamilnadu: KKNPP-3&4 (2 X 1000 MW), 80.51% physical progress, Approved cost Rs. 68,893 crore, expected completion in 2027.
* Kudankulam, Tamilnadu: KKNPP-5&6 (2 X 1000 MW), 41.56% physical progress, Approved cost Rs. 68,893 crore, expected completion in 2030.
* Gorakhpur, Haryana: GHAVP-1&2 (2 X 700 MW), civil works in progress, Approved cost Rs. 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, Approved cost Rs. 1,05,000 crore, progress expected by 2031-32.
* Gorakhpur: GHAVP-3&4 (2 X 700 MW).
* Chutka: Chutka-1&2 (2 X 700 MW).
* Mahi Banswara, Rajasthan: Mahi Banswara-1&2 (2 X 700 MW) at various stages. Being implemented by ASHVINI, a Joint Venture of NPCIL and NTPC.
* Mahi Banswara, Rajasthan: Mahi Banswara-3&4 (2 X 700 MW) at various stages. Being implemented by ASHVINI, a Joint Venture of NPCIL and NTPC.
* **Monitoring and Recruitment:**
* Project progress is reviewed at multiple levels by NPCIL and DAE.
* BHAVINI conducts weekly reviews and quarterly board reviews for progress monitoring.
* NPCIL is recruiting personnel and aims to engage 80 Graduate Engineer Trainees at ECIL.
* **DAE Schemes:**
* DAE has instituted the "DAE-Raja Ramanna Chair" and "DAE-Homi Sethna Chair" schemes to utilize retired scientists, engineers, and technologists.
* These schemes aim to involve experts in R&D, policy, and planning studies, as well as writing monographs and books related to atomic energy.
**Impact Analysis**
**Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL):**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the progress of projects and constant monitoring to identify the constraints.
* **Action Required:** To continue monitoring and make mid-course corrections.
**Department of Atomic Energy (DAE):**
* **Impact:** Responsible for reviewing the progress of projects.
* **Action Required:** Continue monitoring and reviewing the projects.
**BHAVINI:**
* **Impact:** Responsible for commissioning the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR). Also to monitor and reallocate the project.
* **Action Required:** Conduct weekly review meetings and quarterly board reviews.
**Retired Scientists, Engineers, and Technologists:**
* **Impact:** Opportunities to continue contributing through the "DAE-Raja Ramanna Chair" and "DAE-Homi Sethna Chair" schemes.
* **Action Required:** Participate in R&D, policy, and planning studies.
**ECIL:**
* **Impact:** Required to recruit 80 Graduate Engineer Trainees.
* **Action Required:** Initiate recruitment process.
Key Entities Referenced
Department of Atomic Energy (DAE): The primary entity responsible for the expansion projects of nuclear power reactors.
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL): An organization involved in reviewing the progress of the projects.
Rajasthan: Location of the RAPP-75&8 project.
Tamil Nadu: Location of the Kudankulam and FBR 1&2 projects.
DAE-Raja Ramanna Chair (DAE-RRC): A national level scheme instituted by the DAE to utilize the services of retired scientists, engineers, and technologists.
Department of Atomic Energy
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: DAE EXPANSION
PROJECTS
Posted On: 04 FEB 2026 5:39PM by PIB Delhi
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
Gorakhpur, GHAVP-1&2 Civil
Haryana 2 X 700 works in 20,594 2032
progress
Projects Under Pre-project Activities
Kaiga, Kaiga-5&6 2 X 700 Under Progress
pre- 1,05,000 ively by
Karnataka
project 2031-32
activities
Gorakhpur, GHAVP– 3&4 2 X 700
Chutka, Chutka-1&2 2 X 700Mahi Mahi Banswara- 2 X 700 at
Banswara, various
Rajasthan Mahi Banswara- stages
3&4* 2 X 700
$ 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This information was given by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology
and Earth Sciences, and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and
Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.****
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