Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology

The Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT) is an industrial unit of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India, established to harness the applications of radioisotopes and radiation technologies for peaceful societal use.

Background

BRIT was carved out as a distinct entity on 1 March 1989 to focus on non-power applications of nuclear and radiation science, complementing India’s nuclear power programme by addressing industry, healthcare, agriculture and research needs.

Mandate and Vision

• Its vision is to empower India through technology, creating wealth and improving quality of life by deploying radiation-based tools for better healthcare, food security and industrial development.
• Its mandate covers the production and commercial supply of radiation sources, radiopharmaceuticals, labelled compounds, sealed sources, gamma chambers, blood irradiators and radiography devices. It also offers services in isotope application, radioanalytical services, calibration & dosimetry, radiation-processing, and project consultancy for radiation-processing plants.

Organisational Structure & Reach

• BRIT has its headquarters in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, and operates through six regional centres located in Bengaluru, Delhi, Dibrugarh, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Kota, ensuring wide geographic coverage.
• It functions under the administrative oversight of the DAE as one of its industrial units focusing on radiation and isotope technology.

Key Activities & Applications

• Radiopharmaceuticals and labelled compounds: BRIT develops and supplies radio-isotopes used in diagnostics and therapeutics in nuclear medicine, such as I-131, Lu-177, etc.
• Sealed radiation sources & devices: It produces sealed sources and devices such as gamma chambers, radiography exposure devices, blood irradiators for sterilisation of blood, and industrial radiography.
• Radiation processing services: The organisation runs large-scale irradiation facilities (for example the ISOMED facility) for sterilisation of medical products, food irradiation, polymer modification, wastewater treatment, etc.
• Consultancy and project services: BRIT assists private-sector industry in setting up radiation-processing plants and in adopting isotope/radiation technologies for industrial or agricultural applications.
• Calibration, dosimetry & radio-analytical services: It provides calibration and measurement services for radiation equipment, as well as analytical support using radioactive tracers and isotopes.

Significance

• BRIT plays a critical role in India’s “non-power” nuclear technology domain by ensuring that radiation and isotope applications benefit sectors beyond energy — in health, agriculture, industry and environment.
• It contributes towards India’s self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in the supply of critical medical isotopes and devices, thereby supporting both public health infrastructure and strategic industrial capability.
• Its infrastructure allows domestic sterilisation of medical devices and irradiation services for industry which reduces dependence on imports and improves access and turnaround for Indian enterprises.

Challenges and Evolving Focus

• Meeting national demand for certain short-lived radioisotopes remains challenging due to logistical constraints, half-life issues and global supply disruptions.
• Ensuring safety, regulatory compliance, public acceptance and skilled manpower for radiation-based technologies is an ongoing operational requirement.
• As technology evolves, BRIT’s role must adapt to newer applications such as advanced radiopharmaceuticals, nanotechnology with radioisotopes, irradiation of novel materials, and increased industry-academia collaboration.