India plans to develop and operationalise at least five indigenously designed Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) by 2033, the government informed Parliament on 22 July 2026. The target forms the core of the Nuclear Energy Mission announced in the Union Budget 2025-26, as the country works towards 100 GWe of nuclear power capacity by 2047 and lower dependence on fossil-fuel-based generation. Minister of State in the Department of Atomic Energy Dr Jitendra Singh said the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is developing three indigenous reactor technologies: the 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200), the 55 MW Small Modular Reactor (SMR-55), and a High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (HTGCR) of up to 5 MW thermal capacity intended for hydrogen production.
Key Facts & Details
10 points- 1India aims to operationalise at least five indigenous Small Modular Reactors by 2033.
- 2The target sits within the Nuclear Energy Mission announced in the Union Budget 2025-26.
- 3India's larger goal is 100 GWe of nuclear power capacity by 2047.
- 4BARC is developing three indigenous reactor technologies.
- 5These are the 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200) and the 55 MW SMR-55.
- 6The third is a High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor of up to 5 MW thermal for hydrogen production.
- 7The information was given by Dr Jitendra Singh in a written reply in Parliament.
Deep Dive
- +The push is aimed at reducing dependence on fossil-fuel-based power generation.
- +BARC is India's premier nuclear research institution.
- +An HTGCR's high operating temperature makes it suitable for producing hydrogen.
Exam Focus
How many indigenous Small Modular Reactors does India aim to operationalise by 2033, and which body is developing them?
Exam Relevance & Angle
The Nuclear Energy Mission, the 100 GWe by 2047 target and the named BSMR-200 reactor are high-value energy and science general awareness.
Target Exams
Background & Context
A conventional nuclear plant is enormous, takes a decade or more to build and needs a large grid and a big site. A Small Modular Reactor flips that: individual units are far smaller, built largely in a factory and assembled on site, so capacity can be added in increments. That makes SMRs viable in places a full-size plant cannot go — including as replacements for retiring coal units, which already have the land, water and transmission connections. The High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor is a different proposition: rather than mainly generating electricity, its very high operating temperature can drive the chemistry needed to split water and produce hydrogen.
Test Yourself
1 / 2How many indigenous Small Modular Reactors does India aim to operationalise by 2033?
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