The Union Budget 2025–26 announcement for the Nuclear Energy Mission (NEM) sets a long-horizon ambition to expand India’s nuclear electricity generation capacity to 100 GWe by 2047, supported by a Viksit Bharat vision and net-zero emissions goals. The mission also aims to operationalise at least five indigenous Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) by 2033, combining domestic reactor development with expanded sector participation.

What happened under the Nuclear Energy Mission and SHANTI Act, 2025

The SHANTI Act, 2025 focuses on the Nuclear Energy Mission and provides the legislative framework to bring private entities into nuclear energy activities, including research and development and other participation models. Alongside the law, a capacity roadmap outlines near-term capacity additions through progressive completion of ongoing projects, followed by additional capacity additions expected from Indian public-sector enterprises, state governments, and private/joint ventures through different reactor technologies.

SMR development status described by the Department of Atomic Energy

BARC’s reactor development work under the mission includes multiple reactor tracks: the Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200) based on a pressurised water reactor design, the SMR-55 pressurised water reactor design, and a High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (HTGCR) with power up to 5 MWth intended as a nuclear heat source for hydrogen production. The release states that BARC has undertaken design and development work for these reactor concepts and that key approvals for engineering and construction and site selections have been received in several cases.

Capacity roadmap and actor-wise split stated in the release

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