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India's Silent Revolution: The Nuclear Path to Power and Security
- THE GEOSTRATA
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
India finds itself at an inflexion point in an era of climate urgency and rising energy demand. Securing, cleaning, and sustaining the energy future of the country, something very few energy sources can achieve on their own, needs to occur at this time. Nuclear energy, widely misunderstood but tremendously powerful, lays out a pathway for India on how to achieve long-term energy self-sufficiency in general, technological self-reliance, and global leadership in sustainable development.
Illustration by The Geostrata
THE CASE FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY
India’s energy demand is forecasted to double by 2040. With over 1.4 billion people, and its burgeoning industrial base, the country's continued reliance on fossil fuels most notably coal continues to seriously threaten the environment and public health. While renewable energy sources like solar and wind are essential, their intermittent nature restricts their ability to provide stable, large-scale energy.
In this regard, nuclear energy can have a prominent role as an efficient low-carbon, high-density source of round-the-clock electricity. The technology of modern nuclear power plants is changing rapidly from advanced nuclear reactors with new safety systems and modular capacity to floating nuclear power plants to supply electricity to coastal or island regions. These innovations make nuclear power not just sustainable, but also flexible and a good fit for India's diverse geographic and industrial needs.
Nuclear reactors can continuously operate for months without being refuelled and can produce large volumes of energy with little emissions. As we move towards next-generation technologies, fusion reactors including the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), of which India is a major partner, embody the future of limitless, clean energy. So for a country such as India, now the third-largest energy consumer in the world, nuclear power is not an option; it is a necessity for energy security, self-sufficiency, and net-zero commitments.
INDIA'S NUCLEAR JOURNEY: REALITY VERSUS VISION
India's venture into nuclear energy began with the vision of scientists like Dr Homi J. Bhabha, who outlined a three-stage nuclear power program that would ultimately lead India to self-sufficiency using the country's significant thorium reserves. The approach was simple but monumental:
Stage 1: Use natural uranium in Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR) to produce energy and plutonium.
Stage 2: Use plutonium in Fast Breeder Reactors (FBR) to produce more fissile material than they use.
Stage 3: Finally, use Thorium-Based Reactors, given India is estimated to hold 25% of the world's thorium reserves. However, progress has been sluggish at this stage due to the technological challenge of converting thorium into fissile uranium-233, the high cost of research, and a demonstrated lack of large-scale reactor designs worldwide that can efficiently utilise thorium as fuel.
This local design is an integral part of energy independence and for limiting India's reliance on imported uranium. India presently has 24 operational nuclear reactors with a total installed capacity of 8,180 MW, and many more reactors are under construction.
One of the best examples demonstrates India's commitment to self-reliance is the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam. As per the core loading in 2024, this is a huge milestone in the thorium cycle. It also serves as further evidence of India's developing expertise in closed fuel-cycle technology, a complex capability that only a handful of nations in the world can perform.
WHY NUCLEAR POWER IS IMPORTANT FOR SELF-SUSTAINABILITY
Energy Security and Independence: Nuclear energy minimises reliance on importing oil, gas and coal. Nuclear fuel has extremely high energy density, unlike fossil fuels. A few kilograms of nuclear fuel can power cities for years. Some of the supply lines for uranium have been diversified through partnerships with Russia, Kazakhstan and Canada, allowing India to build a robust foundation for energy sovereignty.
Clean Energy, Low Carbon: Nuclear power generates virtually no greenhouse gas emissions while it is operating. Nuclear reactors will play a critical role in balancing emissions from hard-to-abate sectors, such as steel, cement production, and heavy industry, in India’s pursuit of its net-zero target by 2070. For each gigawatt of nuclear generation capacity, millions of tonnes of CO₂ emissions are avoided every year.
Continuous and Reliable Supply: Nuclear reactors supply base-load energy, providing a stable and continuous energy supply, in a way that solar and wind, which can fluctuate widely but are important renewable technologies, cannot. The stability and flexibility of nuclear energy in the energy mix are crucial.
Jobs and Technological Development: The expansion of the nuclear sector provides jobs, including highly-skilled jobs in research, manufacturing or engineering. Developing components of reactors in the country under the Made in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat programs provides an industrial ecosystem for development in India.
Strategic and Diplomatic Leverage: India has signed civil nuclear cooperation agreements with various nations, including the US, France, Japan and Australia, allowing for greater access to nuclear technology and fuel supplies.
Progress on this front has been steady, though slow. The India-US civil nuclear agreement opened the way for international civil nuclear commerce, and France’s EDF is in advanced negotiations to develop six EPR reactors (European Pressurised Reactors) at Jaitapur, which will be the largest nuclear power plant in the world when finished.
Australia has made a pact to supply uranium, together with a similar one with Canada and Kazakhstan, contributing to India’s growing security of supply. These things represent a larger picture of India’s responsible non-proliferation profile and a growing recognition of India as a reliable partner in the nuclear power space internationally.
CURRENT CHALLENGES PREVENTING GROWTH
India's nuclear landscape faces multiple structural and perception challenges and opportunities to be realised despite its promise.
Public Perception and Safety Issues: Problems such as Chernobyl and Fukushima still invoke public fear, notwithstanding that modern reactors have multi-layered safety systems, passive cooling systems, and comprehensive international oversight.
Slow Implementation Timelines: Nuclear projects take time and require a substantial investment of capital. Intense pressure in terms of land acquisition, regulatory approvals, and local resistance led to delays in implementation.
Ongoing Fuel Supply & Technology Constraints: Although India has signed agreements with other countries for their supply of uranium, challenges will remain over the limited domestic mining of uranium and slow progress towards commercially utilising thorium.
Private Sector Involvement: In accordance with the Atomic Energy Act (1962), the ownership of nuclear reactors is only allowed by the government. Little private investment occurs as a result; no innovation occurs in private ventures as suppliers, and competition is non-existent with nuclear energy suppliers.
HOW INDIA CAN ADVANCE NUCLEAR ENERGY
Accelerate the Construction of Reactors: The construction of new reactors must be hastened, especially PHWR and Fast Breeder Reactor in the pipeline, as it should be a national priority. Timelines for projects can be greatly reduced through shortening processes while having a single-window clearance for new constructions.
Public Awareness and Transparency: Trust in the public will be equally important. The government, as well as the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), will have to be proactive in presenting plans, safety measures, environmental impacts, and community development proposals related to the nuclear projects.
Policy Reform for Private Participation: Engaging with the private sector in the construction, upkeep, and financing of nuclear power plants, during regulated conditions, is important to engender a feeling of innovation and encourage worldwide capital. Joint ventures with the domestic private sector and foreign organisations encouraged through strict regulation will also improve capacity.
Focus on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs): Small Modular Reactors can also improve safety and reliability, and are a much cheaper planned alternative. Moreover, they have the capacity to enhance our overall nuclear delivery system to specific, smaller regions, with industrial clusters. Nonetheless, they also pose some specific security concerns.
Since small modular reactors are designed to be more dispersed and could be closer to population centres, they increase the need for stricter physical security and protection against theft or misuse of special nuclear material.
Furthermore, there are still issues such as the safeguard of transportable reactor modules, waste management, and regulatory oversight. Attempting to fund independent research of innovative SMRs and pilot schemes will build on the capability within the region in a more flexible manner.
Strengthen Indigenous Fuel Cycle: It will be essential to develop self-sufficiency in the nuclear fuel cycle. Becoming self-sufficient at every step from uranium mining through to fuel fabrication and eventual disposal of nuclear excess fuel in the waste cycle is of utmost importance. Funding nuclear advanced reprocessing and thorium utility will also help develop the long-term plans intended in the three-stage design process.
THE WAY FORWARD: MAKING NUCLEAR THE CORE OF INDIA'S ENERGY TACTICS
In order for India's development story to be sustainable, it can be built only on three pillars: security, self-reliance, and sustainability. Nuclear energy can link each of these objectives. Operating the PFBR successfully is a landmark moment and will catalyse consideration of thorium reactors that can power India for centuries on its available natural resources.
A global resurgence of interest in nuclear energy is upon us. France is recommissioning nuclear power stations, the U.S. has invested billions in fusion and other nuclear research, and China is rapidly building new nuclear reactors. The global discourse about energy is about to change. For India, it is not about hopping on the bandwagon; it is about returning to our original vision - to be a nation of science, innovation, and self-belief.
India’s nuclear journey is a reflection of its national character: bold, self-sufficient, and confident. In the years ahead, we will need to be bold enough to think beyond conventional pathways for energy. Promoting nuclear energy is more than an economic or environmental logic; it is a statement of intent that India will progress on its own terms using its own science, ingenuity, and strategic foresight.
With the right policies, investments, and public confidence, nuclear power will not only power Indian cities and industries but also India’s vision of being a self-reliant, energy-secure, and climate-responsible nation.
BY MUSKAN GUPTA
TEAM GEOSTRATA