Nuclear Power
Technology · परमाणु ऊर्जा
📋Quick Overview
India's nuclear programme was initiated by Dr. Homi J. Bhabha, the 'Father of Indian Nuclear Programme'. The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) was set up in 1948 and the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in 1954. India conducted its first nuclear test 'Smiling Buddha' (Pokhran-I) on 18 May 1974 and Pokhran-II (Operation Shakti) on 11 May 1998.
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Pokhran-I (Smiling Buddha): 18 May 1974 — India's first nuclear test, making India 6th nuclear power
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Pokhran-II (Operation Shakti): 11 May 1998 — 5 tests under PM Vajpayee, led by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam & Dr. R. Chidambaram
📖Indian Nuclear Power Plants
| Plant | Location | Capacity | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tarapur | Maharashtra | 1400 MW | BWR (oldest operating, 1969) |
| Rawatbhata (RAPS) | Rajasthan | 1180 MW | PHWR |
| Kalpakkam (MAPS) | Tamil Nadu | 440 MW | PHWR + PFBR (Fast Breeder) |
| Narora (NAPS) | Uttar Pradesh | 440 MW | PHWR |
| Kakrapar (KAPS) | Gujarat | 1540 MW | PHWR (includes India's first 700 MW unit) |
| Kudankulam | Tamil Nadu | 2000 MW | VVER (Russian PWR, India's largest) |
| Kaiga | Karnataka | 880 MW | PHWR |
| Jaitapur | Maharashtra | 9900 MW (planned) | EPR (French, world's largest nuclear plant planned) |
📝Key Nuclear Facts
- •Dr. Homi J. Bhabha: Father of Indian Nuclear Programme, set up TIFR (1945) and BARC
- •BARC (Bhabha Atomic Research Centre): Trombay, Mumbai — India's premier nuclear research facility
- •Three-stage nuclear programme by Bhabha: Stage 1 (PHWR-natural uranium), Stage 2 (Fast Breeder-plutonium), Stage 3 (Thorium)
- •India has world's largest thorium reserves — Stage 3 aims to use thorium as fuel
- •NPCIL (Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd): operates all nuclear power plants
- •India's total nuclear capacity: ~7480 MW (2024), target 22,480 MW by 2031
- •India signed Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal in 2005 (123 Agreement)