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India's Nuclear Power Capacity Witnesses Quantum Jump Under Narendra Modi Government

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

India's nuclear power capacity has witnessed a significant quantum jump since 2014, when Narendra Modi took over as the Prime Minister. According to the Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, the annual nuclear power generation in 2013-14 stood at 35,333 million units, while in the latest year of 2021-22, it stands at 47,112 million units, marking a nearly 30 to 40 percent increase. This jump can be attributed to several path-breaking decisions taken by Prime Minister Modi, including the cabinet's approval of 11 indigenous pressurized heavy water reactors in 2017 at a total cost of Rs. 1,05,000 crore and total capacity of 7,000 Mega Watts.

Key Takeaways:

  • The annual nuclear power generation in 2013-14 stood at 35,333 million units, while in the latest year of 2021-22, it stands at 47,112 million units, marking a nearly 30 to 40 percent increase.
  • The cabinet approved 11 indigenous pressurized heavy water reactors in 2017 at a total cost of Rs. 1,05,000 crore and total capacity of 7,000 Mega Watts.
  • The Modi government is promoting the expansion of nuclear power plants to other parts of the country, with an upcoming plant in Gorakhpur town of Haryana.
  • India is set to become the first country to have a thorium-based nuclear plant, "Bhavni", using Uranium-233, which is being set up at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu.
  • The experimental thorium plant "Kamini" already exists in Kalpakkam, and the new plant "Bhavni" will be entirely indigenous.
  • The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) is currently in two joint ventures with PSUs, one with National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) and the other with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).

Statistics:

  • 35,333 million units: annual nuclear power generation in 2013-14
  • 47,112 million units: annual nuclear power generation in 2021-22 (nearly 30 to 40 percent increase)
  • 11: number of indigenous pressurized heavy water reactors approved by the cabinet in 2017
  • Rs. 1,05,000 crore: total cost of the 11 indigenous pressurized heavy water reactors
  • 7,000 Mega Watts: total capacity of the 11 indigenous pressurized heavy water reactors
  • 2: number of joint ventures currently undertaken by NPCIL with PSUs (NTPC and IOCL)

Sources:

  • Press Information Bureau, Government of India (February 9)

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