India Plans Five Indigenous Small Modular Reactors by 2033

India has set a target to develop and operationalise at least five indigenously designed Small Modular Reactors by 2033. The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre is designing three reactor types, including the 220-MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor, the 55-MWe Small Modular Reactor, and an up to 5-MWth High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor.

Small Modular Reactors

Small Modular Reactors are nuclear reactors with lower power output than conventional large reactors. They are designed for modular construction, which allows factory-based fabrication of major components and phased deployment at different sites. The Bharat Small Modular Reactor and the SMR-55 are both based on pressurised water reactor technology. Pressurised water reactors use water under high pressure as coolant and moderator, and they are among the most widely used reactor types in commercial nuclear power generation.

Project Locations and Reactor Types

The Bharat Small Modular Reactor and the SMR-55 are planned for development in Tarapur, Maharashtra. Tarapur is one of India’s early nuclear power locations and has hosted nuclear facilities for several decades. The High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor is planned for Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. It is designed as a nuclear heat source and will be coupled with a thermochemical cycle for hydrogen production.

Nuclear Policy and Energy Targets

The Small Modular Reactor and Hydrogen Initiative for Nuclear Technology Act, 2025 has opened the nuclear energy sector to private participation. The law is linked to investment, technology development, and industrial participation in nuclear projects. India’s Nuclear Energy Mission aims to reach 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047. The mission also projects an installed nuclear capacity of around 22 GW by 2031-32.

Important Facts for Exams

• Small Modular Reactors are generally defined by compact design and lower installed capacity than conventional nuclear reactors.
• Pressurised water reactors use ordinary water as both coolant and moderator under high pressure.
• High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors are suitable for process heat applications and hydrogen-related technologies.
• Tarapur in Maharashtra is one of India’s important nuclear power sites.

Industrial and Energy Applications

Small Modular Reactors are intended for captive power generation in energy-intensive industries. They are also planned for repurposing retiring fossil fuel-based thermal power plants and for supplying electricity to remote locations. India has allocated about $2 billion for the development of these reactors by 2033. The programme combines reactor design, hydrogen-related research, and private-sector participation under the national nuclear energy framework.