PARLIAMENT QUESTION: NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS AND SAFETY STANDARDS

The Department of Atomic Energy provided details on India's nuclear expansion plans, including 18 new reactors and 20 indigenous PHWRs.

It highlighted the Nuclear Energy Mission's focus on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), with a ₹20,000 crore allocation in the 2025-26 budget and a target to operationalize five SMRs by 2033, including specific BARC projects and their associated outlays. The response also covered safety and security protocols, mentioning AERB's role and multi-layered security systems.