India has set a target to develop and operationalise at least five indigenously designed Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) by 2033. The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is designing three reactor types \u2014 the 220-MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR), the 55-MWe SMR, and an up-to 5-MWth High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (HTGR).

Small Modular Reactors are nuclear reactors with lower power output than conventional large reactors. Their key advantage is modular construction, which allows factory-based fabrication of major components and phased deployment at different sites. This reduces construction time, upfront cost and financing risk, making nuclear power more flexible and scalable.

The Bharat SMR and the SMR-55 are both based on pressurised water reactor (PWR) technology, which uses water under high pressure as both coolant and moderator and is among the most widely used designs in commercial nuclear power. These two reactors are planned for development at Tarapur, Maharashtra, one of India\u2019s earliest nuclear power locations.

The High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor is planned for Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. It is designed as a nuclear heat source and will be coupled with a thermochemical cycle for hydrogen production, linking nuclear energy to India\u2019s clean-hydrogen ambitions. The SMR and Hydrogen Initiative for Nuclear Technology Act, 2025 has opened the nuclear sector to private participation, investment and technology development.

This push is central to India\u2019s clean-energy and strategic goals. India\u2019s Nuclear Energy Mission aims to reach 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047, with about 22 GW by 2031-32. SMRs can decarbonise industry, power remote and off-grid areas, replace ageing thermal plants, create high-skill jobs and reduce fossil-fuel imports \u2014 while private participation can accelerate indigenous technology and industrial capability.

Practice Questions (MCQs)

A total of 10 questions — 7 moderate level and 3 UPSC/RPSC level.

UPSC / RPSC Relevance

• ➜ Prelims: SMRs, BARC, pressurised water reactor, Nuclear Energy Mission.
• ➜ Mains GS-III: Energy security, clean energy transition and indigenous technology.
• ➜ Economy / Industry: Private participation in nuclear, jobs and manufacturing.
• ➜ Environment / S&T: Low-carbon power, hydrogen production and net-zero goals.

UPSC Mains Descriptive Question