Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Science and Technology
Why in News?
Government unveiled Nuclear Energy Mission roadmap to reach 100 GW by 2047, with five indigenous Small Modular Reactors planned by 2033.
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) – It is developing 3 indigenous reactor technologies.
- Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR‑200) – 220 MW capacity.
- SMR‑55 – 55 MW capacity.
- High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (HTGCR) – up to 5 MW thermal capacity, designed for hydrogen production via thermochemical processes (e.g., copper‑chlorine cycle).
SHANTI Act, 2025
- Private Participation – Opens nuclear sector to private companies for generation and research.
- Indigenous Technology – Encourages domestic development of advanced reactors.
- Regulation – Grants statutory status to Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), strengthening independence, oversight, and enforcement powers.
Safety and Waste Management
- Design Principles – Multiple safety layers, redundancy, diversity, defence‑in‑depth.
- Oversight – Rigorous reviews by NPCIL (Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited) and AERB (Atomic Energy Regulatory Board).
- Waste Management – Governed by Atomic Energy (Safe Disposal of Radioactive Wastes) Rules, 1987 and AERB safety codes. Waste segregated, treated, stored in engineered containment, continuously monitored.
Reference
DD News | SMRs
