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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-4323
ANSWERED ON 02/04/2026
NUCLEAR RESEARCH
4323. SHRI PRADIP KUMAR VARMA
Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-
(a) the number of nuclear research projects undertaken during the last three years;
(b) the number of projects related to the application of nuclear technology in medicine,
agriculture, and industry;
(c) the central budget released for research and development during those years; and
(d) the targets set for expansion of research in the coming years?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS
AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) Around one hundred and forty (140) nuclear research projects are undertaken in the
Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in last three years.
(b) Around twenty three (23) projects related to the application of nuclear technology in
medicine, agriculture, and industry pursued by DAE.
(c) Budget released (Actual Expenditure) for Research and Development is
2023-24 Rs 9305.39 crore
2024-25 Rs 9546.73 crore
2025-26( till February 2026) Rs 9396.38 crore(d) DAE undertakes R&D activities through various sanctioned projects. The focus of
research is on new technology development in multidisciplinary areas in line with the
departmental mandate to achieve self-reliance. Key focus areas include; flagship
programme related to development and deployment of new research reactors for R&D,
isotope production reactors with isotope processing facilities for self-reliance in isotope
production for cancer treatment. R&D is also being pursued for development of reactor
technologies for new reactors including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) for power and
hydrogen production with associated hydrogen production cycles and their front and
back-end fuel cycles. Accelerator programme along with development of associated
cryogenic and superconducting technologies are being pursued to achieve higher beam
energy for societal, medical and scientific applications for Atmanirbharata in these
advanced technologies. Development of laser-based technology for medical and
engineering applications. Advanced materials and manufacturing technologies are also
being developed to support these flagship programme.
Further, focused efforts are directed towards the use of radiation and nuclear
technologies for societal applications such as development of new
radiopharmaceuticals for cancer care, development of improved crop varieties, based
on radiation mutagenesis, with desirable traits such as high yield, early maturity,
tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses etc., and development of technology and
protocols for food preservation using radiation technologies for food security,
technologies for water desalination and purification. R&D activities in basic and
applied sciences and astrophysics are also being pursued.
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