Jitendra Singh Confirms Atomic Energy Bill 2025 Nears Approval Amid Nuclear Expansion Plans
India readies major update to its atomic energy law with the 2025 bill.
The Atomic Energy Bill 2025 is in its final stages of preparation, with various ministries actively providing feedback and the Ministry of Law and Justice undertaking thorough legal vetting, Union Minister of Science and Technology Jitendra Singh announced on Thursday. The bill, which aims to overhaul and modernize India’s atomic energy regulatory framework, is progressively incorporating government policy directives related to nuclear energy development before being presented for high-level approvals. This comprehensive process ensures the bill aligns with both national priorities and international legal standards.
The announcement came during discussions in the Lok Sabha prompted by MP Mallu Ravi’s query on India’s cooperation with Russia regarding nuclear energy projects, including the development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), and the status of the Nuclear Energy Mission under the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India). Minister Singh highlighted that recent meetings between India’s Department of Atomic Energy and Russia’s Rosatom focused on expanding bilateral cooperation across multiple fronts, from large-scale nuclear power plants to the nuclear fuel cycle. Notably, plans are underway to collaborate on the construction of SMRs based on Russian designs, emphasizing local production and technology transfer to enhance India’s nuclear manufacturing capabilities.
The government has also allocated a substantial budget of ₹20,000 crore for the fiscal year 2025-26 toward the design, development, and deployment of SMRs, aiming to operationalize indigenously developed models by 2033. The Nuclear Energy Mission includes research and funding for the advanced 200 MW Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200), currently in the late stages of obtaining administrative and financial sanctions.
Additionally, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is spearheading the development of three SMR designs: the 200 MWe BSMR-200, a 55 MWe SMR-55, and a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor up to 5 MWth intended for hydrogen generation. These demonstration reactors are expected to be constructed and commissioned within 60 to 72 months after project sanctioning, most likely at Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) sites, serving as vital proof-of-concept models for India’s nuclear future.
This phase marks a decisive step in India’s push to strengthen its nuclear energy portfolio for sustainable and secure power generation, tapping into emerging technologies like SMRs that promise flexibility, safety, and scalability—key to meeting the country’s growing energy demands and climate commitments. Enhanced international cooperation combined with robust indigenous innovation positions India as a significant global player in next-generation nuclear technology.
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