**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer to Unstarred Question No. 1638 in Lok Sabha, answered on December 10, 2025, regarding electricity generation capacity through nuclear energy. It addresses the concerns about the slow expansion of nuclear capacity and the potential amendment of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962. The document provides current statistics, future projections, and policy details related to nuclear energy in India.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Nuclear Energy Contribution:**
* Nuclear energy consistently contributes about 3% to India's overall electricity generation.
* In 2024-25, the nuclear share in total electricity generation was about 3.1%.
* **Expansion of Nuclear Capacity:**
* The slow expansion in early years was due to technology development phases and international embargoes.
* India operates the sixth largest nuclear reactor fleet globally.
* The current installed capacity is 8.78 GW (excluding RAPS-1, 100 MW).
* Capacity is projected to increase to 22.38 GW (excluding RAPS-1, 100 MW) by 2031-32.
* The Government announced a Nuclear Energy Mission to reach 100 GW by 2047.
* **Atomic Energy Act Amendment:**
* Currently, foreign direct investment (FDI) in atomic energy is prohibited.
* The Government plans to amend the Atomic Energy Act, 1962.
* The purpose of the amendment is to allow private sector participation in atomic energy.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Government**
* **Impact:** Needs to legislate the amendment to the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and manage the Nuclear Energy Mission to reach 100 GW by 2047.
* **Action Required:** Draft and implement the Atomic Energy Act amendment to allow private participation.
**Stakeholder: Private Sector**
* **Impact:** Potential new opportunities for investment and participation in the nuclear energy sector.
* **Action Required:** Monitor the amendment of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and prepare for possible investment and participation in nuclear energy projects.
**Stakeholder: General Public**
* **Impact:** A potential increase in electricity generation capacity and energy security through nuclear power.
* **Action Required:** No immediate action required; stay informed about developments in nuclear energy policy.
Key Entities Referenced
Atomic Energy Act, 1962: The principal act governing atomic energy in India, which the government is proposing to amend to allow private sector participation.
Nuclear Energy Mission: The government's mission to reach 100 GW of nuclear power by 2047.
Department of Atomic Energy: The Indian government department responsible for atomic energy development.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1638
ANSWERED ON 10/12/2025
ELECTRICITY GENERATION CAPACITY THROUGH NUCLEAR ENERGY
1638. DR. PRABHA MALLIKARJUN
Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-
(a) whether it is a fact that despite decades of investment, nuclear energy contributes only
1.6% to Country’s total electricity generation, which is far below its stated potential;
(b) if so, the reasons for the slow expansion of nuclear capacity given that current capacity
is only 7.5 GW and is expected to rise marginally to 8.18 GW by 2024 against the target
of 22.48 GW by 2031-32; and
(c) whether the Government proposes to amend the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 to permit
greater private and foreign participation in reactor operations considering that 100%
FDI is allowed only in nuclear equipment manufacturing and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS
AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) Nuclear power generation in the country has kept pace with the overall generation of
electricity in the country, and thus has consistently remained at about 3%. The nuclear
share in total electricity generation in the country in 2024-25 was about 3.1%.
(b) The main reason for slow expansion of nuclear power capacity in the early days was
the technology development phase that had to be gone through in an international
embargo and technology denial regime, coupled with limited availability of resources.
Therefore, although India operates the sixth largest nuclear reactor fleet in the world,
the present installed capacity of nuclear power is 8.78 GW (excluding RAPS-1, 100
MW). Now indigenous PHWR technology has matured for larger size reactor, i.e 700
MW. With the deployment of indigenous 700 MW reactors and 1000 MW reactors
with international cooperation, the present capacity will increase to 22.38 GW
(excluding RAPS-1, 100 MW) by 2031-32 on progressive completion of projects at
various stages of implementation. Further, the Government has also announced the
Nuclear Energy Mission of reaching 100 GW by 2047.(c) Yes. As per the current policy, foreign direct investment (FDI) in atomic energy is
prohibited. Government is proposing to amend Atomic Energy Act, 1962 to allow
private sector participation in atomic energy.
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