With growing energy needs should India keep on expanding its nuclear energy programme? Discuss the facts and fears associated with nuclear energy.
Approach · directive: “should / discuss”
What it asks · Take a reasoned stand on expanding nuclear power, weighing the facts (low-carbon baseload, fuel security, thorium) against the fears (accidents, waste, cost, liability).
It asks 3 things — answer each
- Discuss the facts: the case for nuclear power, firm low-carbon supply, indigenous fleet-mode reactors, the three-stage programme and thorium, new policy momentum
- Discuss the fears: accidents, waste, cost, liability, regulation and local opposition
- Should India keep expanding? A reasoned verdict with the conditions attached
Open with · India's nuclear capacity was 8,180 MW on 30 January 2025 against a Budget 2025-26 target of 100 GW by 2047; the gap between the two is the measure of the expansion proposed, and the answer depends on weighing the facts against the fears.
Cover
- Facts for: firm, low-carbon power that supports climate goals, a small land footprint, mature indigenous reactor designs, and fleet-mode construction of 700 MW reactors, approved in 2017, to cut cost and time.
- Energy need: a growing economy needs reliable power beyond polluting, import-dependent coal and intermittent renewables; nuclear complements them and adds fuel security, though its share is small today.
- Three-stage programme: natural-uranium heavy-water reactors, then fast breeders using plutonium, then thorium-based reactors, to use India's abundant thorium and limited uranium.
- Fears: accidents such as Chernobyl and Fukushima, radiation risk, long-lived radioactive waste, decommissioning costs, and vulnerability to natural hazards and terrorism.
- Local concerns: land acquisition, livelihood loss and mistrust at sites such as Kudankulam and Jaitapur; open safety information and community consent are needed.
- Economics and regulation: high capital cost and long gestation; the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 shapes supplier participation; calls to strengthen the regulator's independence.
- Way forward: expand cautiously with best safety practice, indigenous technology and thorium research, sound waste management, transparent communication, and renewables and storage alongside.
Close with · Expansion towards 100 GW, framed by the Government as 'a major pillar in India's energy mix' for Viksit Bharat, is justified only at the pace that regulation, safety and public trust allow, with the COP26 pledge of 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030 showing the need.
Add value (verified)
- In April 2026 the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam attained first criticality; DAE calls fast breeders the bridge from today's heavy water reactors to future thorium-based reactors.Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu attains First Criticality, Department of Atomic Energy, press release (7 April 2026) ↗“Fast breeder technology forms the vital bridge between the current fleet of pressurized heavy water reactors and the future deployment of thorium-based reactors, leveraging the country’s abundant thorium resources for long-term clean energy generation.”
- Union Budget 2025-26: a target of 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047, positioning nuclear energy as a major pillar of India's energy mix, aligned with Viksit Bharat.PIB backgrounder: Nuclear Energy Mission, Union Budget 2025-26 (February 2025) ↗“The government has set an ambitious target of 100 GW nuclear power capacity by 2047, positioning nuclear energy as a major pillar in India's energy mix. This development aligns with the broader objectives of Viksit Bharat”
- India's nuclear capacity was 8,180 MW as of 30 January 2025; the Government plans to raise it to 22,480 MW by 2031-32.PIB backgrounder: Nuclear Energy Mission, Union Budget 2025-26 (February 2025) ↗“The government has initiated steps to increase nuclear power capacity from the current 8,180 MW to 22,480 MW by 2031-32.”
- The Nuclear Energy Mission allocates Rs 20,000 crore to develop at least five indigenously designed, operational small modular reactors by 2033.PIB backgrounder: Nuclear Energy Mission, Union Budget 2025-26 (February 2025) ↗“The government has allocated ₹20,000 crore for this initiative, aiming to develop at least five indigenously designed and operational SMRs by 2033.”
- The same backgrounder links the mission to India's COP26 pledge of 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030.PIB backgrounder: Nuclear Energy Mission, Union Budget 2025-26 (February 2025) ↗“This initiative aligns with India's commitment to achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy generation by 2030”
- In June 2017 the Government sanctioned ten indigenous 700 MW pressurised heavy water reactors in fleet mode, to be built by NPCIL.PIB: Setting up of Ten Indigenous Nuclear Power Reactors (Lok Sabha reply, 2018) ↗“The Government in June, 2017 accorded administrative approval and financial sanction for setting up ten indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) of 700 MW each in fleet mode.”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2018, GS Paper III — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 3 Oct 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer· 369words · Minimalist IAS
India's nuclear capacity was 8,180 MW on 30 January 2025, against a Budget 2025-26 target of 100 GW by 2047; that gap is the expansion now proposed. The answer lies in weighing the facts against the fears.
The facts: the case for nuclear power
- Firm, low-carbon supply: a growing economy needs reliable power beyond import-dependent coal and intermittent renewables; nuclear plants run round the clock.
- Indigenous capability: in June 2017 the Government sanctioned ten 700 MW pressurised heavy water reactors in fleet mode under NPCIL to cut cost and time; capacity is planned to reach 22,480 MW by 2031-32.
- Fuel security: the three-stage programme moves from heavy water reactors to fast breeders and then thorium reactors; the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam reached first criticality in April 2026, the bridge to thorium.
- New momentum: a Rs 20,000 crore Nuclear Energy Mission for five indigenous small modular reactors by 2033, and, since then, the SHANTI Act (assent 21 December 2025), admitting regulated private investment.
The fears
- Safety: Chernobyl and Fukushima show the worst case; radiation, natural hazards and terrorism worry citizens.
- Waste: long-lived radioactive waste needs secure storage for generations; decommissioning is costly.
- Economics: high capital cost and long gestation while solar tariffs fall.
- Liability and regulation: the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 limited supplier participation until the SHANTI Act, 2025 absorbed it; critics want a regulator independent of the Department of Atomic Energy.
- Local consent: land, livelihoods and mistrust at Kudankulam and Jaitapur show consent cannot be assumed.
| Aspect | Fact | Fear |
|---|---|---|
| Supply | Round-the-clock, low-carbon | Small share of power today |
| Cost | Fleet mode cuts unit cost | Long gestation, cheap solar |
Should India keep expanding?
- Yes, calibrated: nuclear complements renewables and storage in a diverse mix and is India's surest route to firm clean power.
- On conditions: an independent regulator, a strong safety culture, indigenous technology, sound waste management, open safety information and genuine community consent.
Expansion towards 100 GW, framed by the Government as 'a major pillar in India's energy mix' for Viksit Bharat, is justified only at the pace that regulation, safety and public trust allow; the COP26 pledge of 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030 shows how much firm clean power India needs.
Prepared by Minimalist IAS to the answer standard of Shivam Singh (mentor, 7 years) · facts checked against official sources (how we verify) · updated 3 Oct 2026. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.
