New Delhi

Union Minister of Science and Technology Jitender Singh said on Thursday that the proposed Atomic Energy Bill 2025 is in an advanced phase of processing and preparation. He explained that comments from various ministries are being incorporated, and the Ministry of Law and Justice is vetting the document to ensure full legal compliance.

According to the minister, key policy directives of the central government related to specific elements of the bill are being suitably added before the final draft is placed for approval.

On December 3, Member of Parliament Mallu Ravi sought clarification in the Lok Sabha on the status of cooperation in the development of Small Modular Reactors and on the progress of the Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat.

Responding to the query, Singh informed the House that a meeting had taken place between the Department of Atomic Energy and Russia’s Rosatom to advance bilateral collaboration in the nuclear energy sector. The discussion covered the development of nuclear projects for both large and small power plants as well as cooperation across the nuclear fuel cycle.

The minister further said that both sides also explored the possibility of localising the production of nuclear equipment within India. One of the new areas of dialogue focused on the construction of Small Modular Reactors using Russian designs in the country.

In the Union Budget for 2025 to 2026, the government allocated twenty thousand crore rupees for the design, development and deployment of Small Modular Reactors. The objective is to operationalise indigenous reactors of this category by the year 2033.

As part of the Nuclear Energy Mission, funds have also been set aside for the research and development of the two hundred megawatt Bharat Small Modular Reactor, which is now in the final stage of receiving administrative and financial approval.

The minister added that the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre has initiated the design and development of three Small Modular Reactors. These include the two hundred megawatt Bharat Small Modular Reactor BSMR two hundred, the fifty five megawatt Small Modular Reactor SMR fifty five and a high temperature gas cooled reactor up to five megawatt thermal capacity intended for hydrogen production.

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According to Singh, it has been proposed that the first units of these reactors will be constructed at a Department of Atomic Energy location for technology demonstration. He said the demonstration units are expected to be completed within sixty to seventy two months after project sanctions are granted.