**Executive Summary**
This document answers Starred Question No. 78 in Lok Sabha on February 4, 2026, regarding the development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in India. It details the government's prioritization of SMRs for clean energy, advantages over conventional reactors, progress in indigenous design, and contribution to achieving a 100 GW nuclear capacity target by 2047. The document also mentions the SHANTI Act's role in promoting SMR development.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Government Prioritization of SMRs:**
* SMRs are prioritized for clean and reliable energy for long-term energy security.
* They will be deployed in brownfield sites as captive power plants for decarbonization.
* They will be utilized for repurposing fossil fuel plants and in remote locations without grid connectivity.
* **Advantages of SMRs:**
* Promising technology for industrial decarbonization.
* Can be deployed as captive plants for large industries.
* Lower land requirement due to enhanced safety features.
* Suitable for retired power plants and off-grid areas.
* Engineered for flexible operation and load following.
* Lower construction time and capital cost; standardized design for serial production.
* **Progress in SMR Design & Development:**
* Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) initiated the design and development of SMRs under the Nuclear Energy Mission.
* Projects include:
* 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200): Detailed project report approved, financial sanction awaited, pre-project activities underway.
* 55 MWe Small Modular Reactor (SMR-55): Proposal approved in-principle, design detailing and prototype equipment development in progress.
* Up to 5 MWth high-temperature gas-cooled reactor for hydrogen generation: Detailed progress report prepared, financial/administrative approval sought, design detailing in progress.
* **Nuclear Fuel Cycle & Waste Management:**
* Leveraging expertise from Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) for water-based SMRs.
* Considering Slightly Enriched Uranium (SEU) as potential fuel.
* Reprocessing spent fuel for domestic fuel to recover materials and reduce waste.
* Broad philosophy for nuclear waste management remains the same.
* Reprocessing technology to be re-engineered based on fuel configuration.
* BARC provides scientific & technological expertise; Indian industries handle equipment manufacturing.
* **Contribution to 100 GW Target:**
* SMRs are being developed for deployment in brownfield sites with the following objectives:
* Repurposing of retiring fossil fuel-based power plants
* Captive plants for energy intensive industries and
* Off-grid applications for remote locations
* The 100 GW target by 2047 can be achieved through large reactors (700 MWe PHWRs, imported advanced reactors) and SMRs for rapid decarbonization.
* **Role of SHANTI Act:**
* Allows research, development, design, and innovation in nuclear energy radiation for peaceful uses without licensing.
* Aims to promote new reactor technologies in India.
**Impact Analysis**
**Government of India (Department of Atomic Energy)**
* **Impact:** Accountable for meeting energy security goals, decarbonization targets, and nuclear power capacity goals. Responsible for managing the progress of ongoing SMR projects.
* **Action Required:** Continue to promote and financially support the development and deployment of SMR technology.
**Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for designing and developing SMR technologies.
* **Action Required:** Continue the design and development of SMRs, including BSMR-200 and SMR-55, and seek relevant administrative and financial support for each development.
**Indian Industries**
* **Impact:** Involved in the manufacturing of SMR equipment and components, benefiting from technological handholding from BARC.
* **Action Required:** Collaborate with BARC and the DAE to manufacture the equipment and components required for the SMR projects.
**Energy-Intensive Industries/Remote Locations**
* **Impact:** Potential beneficiaries of SMR deployment, providing reliable power and reducing carbon footprint, especially in off-grid areas.
* **Action Required:** Evaluate the feasibility of adopting SMR technology for their specific energy needs and consider potential deployment opportunities.
**Citizens of India**
* **Impact:** Benefit from the development of a clean, reliable, and secure energy supply.
* **Action Required:** No immediate action required.
Key Entities Referenced
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs): Nuclear reactors prioritized for clean energy, energy security, and decarbonization.
SHANTI Act: Act aiming to promote research, development and deployment of new reactor technologies in the country.
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC): Constituent Unit of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) initiating design and development of SMRs.
Department of Atomic Energy (DAE): Government department overseeing atomic energy development.
Nuclear Energy Mission: An initiative under which the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has initiated design and development of SMRs.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO - 78
ANSWERED ON 04.02.2026
DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL MODULAR REACTOR
*78. SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR
SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL
Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-
(a) whether Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are being prioritized by the Government for
clean and reliable energy for country’s long-term energy security;
(b) the details of the major advantages of SMRs over conventional reactors in terms of
safety, flexibility, land requirement and suitability for remote or industrial applications;
(c) the details of the progress made so far in indigenous SMR design, fuel-cycle readiness
and collaboration with the Indian industry;
(d) the manner in which SMRs are expected to contribute in achieving the Government’s
target of 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047; and
(e) the manner in which the SHANTI Act aims to promote research, development and
deployment of SMRs in the country?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) to (e) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
*****Government of India
Department of Atomic Energy
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (A) TO (E) IN RESPECT OF LOK
SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.78 FOR REPLY ON 04.02.2026 REGARDING
“DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL MODULAR REACTOR” ASKED BY SHRI ANURAG
SINGH THAKUR AND SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL
(a) Nuclear energy is envisaged a clean and reliable energy source. Small Modular
Reactors (SMRs) are prioritized for deployment in brownfield site as captive power
plants for rapid decarbonization of energy intensive sectors, repurposing of retiring
fossil fuel based power plants and deployment in remote location with no grid
connectivity for catering to energy requirements.
(b) SMR is a promising technology in industrial de-carbonization especially where there
is a requirement of reliable and continuous supply of power. SMRs can be deployed
as captive plants for large industries repurposing of retired fossil fuel based power
plants. As the exclusion zone required will be significantly lower due to enhanced
safety, this, reduces the land requirement. They are suitable candidates for setting up
in retired power plants, off grid areas also. SMRs can be engineered to have load
follow characteristics for increasing flexibility of operation. SMRs, in general, has
lower construction time and hence lower capital cost. Their design can be standardized
for serial production.
(c) Under the Nuclear Energy Mission, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), a
Constituent Unit of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has recently initiated design
and development of SMRs namely :
1. 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200). The detailed project
report has been approved and financial sanction is awaited. Various pre-project
activities are under progress.
2. 55 MWe Small Modular Reactor (SMR-55). The proposal has been approved in-
principle and design detailing is in progress. Design and development of major
prototype equipment are in progress.3. Up to 5 MWth high temperature gas cooled reactor meant for hydrogen
generation. The detailed progress report (DPR) has been prepared and
financial and administrative approval is being sought and design detailing is in
progress.
DAE has acquired expertise across the complete front and back end of the nuclear fuel
cycle through its experience with indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors
(PHWRs). This expertise is being leveraged for pressurised water-based SMRs.
Slightly Enriched Uranium (SEU) is considered as potential fuel for proposed SMRs.
In case of domestic fuel, it is proposed to carryout reprocessing of spent fuel to recover
valuable nuclear materials and reduce the overall nuclear waste burden. Broad
philosophy of nuclear waste management remains same to reduce the overall nuclear
waste burden i.e. recovery of useful radioisotopes, if any, volume reduction followed
by vitrification of waste in stable glass matrix and storage in engineered facilities kept
under surveillance at par with internationally accepted practices. However, in case of
SMRs the reprocessing technology is to be re-engineered based on the fuel
configuration.
DAE has requisite scientific & technological know-how for its design and development
and majority of equipment are within manufacturing capability of Indian Industries with
technological handholding by BARC.
(d) SMRs are being developed for deployment in brownfield sites with specific objectives
of :
1. Repurposing of retiring fossil fuel-based power plants
2. Captive plants for energy intensive industries and
3. Off-grid applications for remote locations
The target of 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047, can be achieved by deploying of large
reactors such as 700 MWe indigenous PHWRs and large capacity imported advanced
reactor designs at green field site. Where as SMRs are considered to be fit for rapid
decarbonization of energy sector.(e) The SHANTI Act allows any person to carry out research, development, design and
innovation in matters related to nuclear energy radiation for the peaceful uses without
obtaining a license. This provision aims to promote research, development and
deployment of new reactor technologies in the country.
*****