Page 73 - Policy Economic Report -August 2026

POLICY AND ECONOMIC
OIL & GAS MARKET

It was informed that since the commencement of India’s Chairship, Member Countries have engaged
through 21 virtual thematic and negotiation meetings, 10 bilateral consultations, 2 thematic dialogues
and 2 technical webinars, reflecting an extraordinary level of commitment to advancing the shared
agenda. The marathon deliberations would culminate in building a consensus on the key priorities
during the Senior Officers' meeting.

12. Dr. Jitendra Singh Presents Government’s Roadmap for a Self-Reliant and Globally Competitive
Nuclear Energy Ecosystem in Lok Sabha

India is steadily strengthening its indigenous nuclear energy ecosystem with a focus on advanced
reactor technologies, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), domestic manufacturing capabilities, private-
sector participation and long-term utilisation of the country’s abundant thorium resources, Minister
of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and Prime Minister’s Office, Dr. Jitendra Singh,
said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said India’s long-term nuclear energy strategy continues to be guided by the
country’s three-stage nuclear power programme, aimed at sustainable utilisation of its vast thorium
reserves for long-term energy security. The strategy has received further impetus through the Nuclear
Energy Mission announced in the Union Budget 2025-26, with an objective of expanding nuclear
energy capacity to 100 GWe by 2047.

The Government has adopted a two-pronged approach to accelerate nuclear capacity addition. This
includes deployment of large indigenous reactors such as 700 MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors
(PHWRs) and advanced reactor designs at greenfield sites, alongside development and deployment
of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) at brownfield locations, including retiring fossil-fuel-based power
plants, captive plants for energy-intensive industries and off-grid applications in remote areas.

A key objective under the Nuclear Energy Mission is to develop and operationalise at least five
indigenous SMRs by 2033. The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), a constituent unit of the
Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), is undertaking the design and development of indigenous SMR
technologies, including the 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200) and 55 MWe SMR-
55 for power generation. BARC is also developing a High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (HTGCR) of
up to 5 MWth capacity, which can be coupled with a suitable thermochemical cycle for hydrogen
production.

Dr. Jitendra Singh also highlighted the continuing work of the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic
Research (IGCAR) in advancing the second stage of India’s nuclear power programme. IGCAR is
pursuing multidisciplinary scientific research and advanced engineering development for Sodium
Cooled Fast Breeder Reactors and associated closed fuel-cycle facilities, technologies that remain a
cornerstone of India’s long-term nuclear strategy.

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