What happened (government statement on SMRs and SHANTI 2025)
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State (Prime Minister’s Office and Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space) Dr. Jitendra Singh provided details on India’s Small Modular Reactor (SMR) push and the legislative reforms under the SHANTI 2025 Act (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Act). The reply links budget allocation, reactor R&D/design progress, and the anticipated governance change for broader participation in peaceful nuclear energy.
Key announced points from the reply include the following.
Nuclear Energy Mission allocation for SMR development
The Department of Atomic Energy stated that the Nuclear Energy Mission announced in the Union Budget 2025–26 has a total budgetary provision of Rs. 20,000 crore for the design, development and deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).
The stated objective connected to this allocation is:
Related current affairs
- Progress under Nuclear Energy Mission: 100 GW target, indigenous SMRs, and private sector participation via SHANTI Act, 2025
- Parliament question: Deployment of small modular reactors under Nuclear Energy Mission; SHANTI Act, 2025 and AERB regulatory framework
- Nuclear Energy Mission: target of 100 GW by 2047 and indigenous SMRs; SHANTI Act-2025 for private participation
- Parliament Question: SHANTI Act, 2025 and progress towards 100 GW nuclear power by 2047