Nuclear Power Makes Up 3% of India's Electricity, Says Government

Nuclear power contributed about 3 per cent to India’s total electricity generation in 2024–25. Nuclear power plants produced 56,681 million units of electricity during this period, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Jitendra Singh, informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

The minister said the government aims to increase the country’s nuclear power capacity to 100 gigawatts by 2047 under its Nuclear Energy Mission. The plan includes expanding domestic and imported nuclear fuel sources and allowing greater participation from both public and private sector players.

India’s current installed nuclear capacity stands at 8,780 megawatts, spread across 24 reactors. This figure does not include the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station Unit-1 (RAPS-1), which has been shut down for an extended period.

An additional 13,600 megawatts of nuclear power capacity is under construction. This includes the 500 MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) being developed by BHAVINI. The government expects total installed capacity to rise to 22,380 megawatts by 2031–32 once these projects are completed.

Singh highlighted the government’s increased focus on nuclear energy by pointing to the Department of Atomic Energy’s budget, which grew 170 per cent from Rs 13,889 crore before 2014 to Rs 23,604 crore this year. This reflects a strong commitment to expanding the sector.

He also noted the 2017 Union Cabinet decision that approved 10 new reactors in a single move—an unprecedented step for India’s nuclear program. The recent Union Budget further supported this push by allocating funds to a dedicated nuclear mission.

The government is supporting research into Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and advanced nuclear technologies. SMRs are smaller, modular reactors designed for easier assembly and flexible deployment across different locations. Future projects will use both existing reactor designs and new technologies now under development to help meet the 2047 target.

To ensure fuel supply, the government is working on increasing nuclear fuel sources through both domestic production and diverse imports. This strategy supports the planned growth in nuclear power capacity.

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