Maarg Manthan · Topic 13.4

Nuclear Power Policy of India: Advantages and Disadvantages

Science & Technology › Nuclear Technology and Energy · Topic 13.4

India's nuclear power policy aims to expand clean, steady electricity from nuclear plants as part of its goal of net zero emissions by 2070 and its target of about 100 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2047. Nuclear plants gave India roughly 3 per cent of its electricity from a capacity of about 8 gigawatts in the mid 2020s. The legal framework rests on the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, and plants are run mostly by the public company Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited. The Union Budget of 2025 announced a Nuclear Energy Mission with Rs 20,000 crore to develop small modular reactors, and India has been discussing changes in the law to allow private and foreign participation. Nuclear power brings low carbon and reliable output, but also high cost, waste, safety and liability concerns.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Science & Technology · Nuclear Technology and Energy

At a Glance

Main laws Atomic Energy Act 1962, CLND Act 2010
Operator NPCIL
Capacity target About 100 GW by 2047
Share today About 3 per cent of electricity
Budget 2025 Nuclear Energy Mission, SMRs
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Science & Technology: Nuclear Technology and Energy

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows the account of the three-stage programme. It places the technology in its policy setting, with laws, targets and the balance of advantages and disadvantages. Previous topic: Thorium and U-233…">India’s Three-Stage Civil Nuclear Programme. Next topic: Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and Safety Standards in Nuclear Plants.

What Are the Key Elements of the Policy?

Element	Details
Atomic Energy Act, 1962	Gives the Central Government control over nuclear materials, research and plants. Only government-owned entities could run nuclear power plants, with some joint ventures of public companies
Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010	Sets strict liability on the operator, a cap on liability and a right of recourse against suppliers in some cases. Concerns about supplier liability slowed foreign reactors
India-US civil nuclear agreement	The 123 Agreement signed in 2008 allowed India civil nuclear trade, after the Nuclear Suppliers Group waiver of September 2008 and an IAEA safeguards agreement
Separation plan	India placed 14 of its reactors under IAEA safeguards and kept others military
Fleet mode	In 2017 the Government approved 10 indigenous 700 MWe PHWRs to be built in fleet mode, with a total cost of about Rs 1.05 lakh crore
Joint ventures	NTPC and NPCIL set up a joint venture, ASHVINI, and other public companies, to build plants
2047 goal	About 100 GW of nuclear capacity, with new reactors, small modular reactors and private participation

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages?

Advantage: low carbon: nuclear plants produce almost no greenhouse gases during operation
Advantage: base load: they run day and night regardless of weather, giving steady power
Advantage: energy density: a small amount of fuel produces large energy, reducing coal and gas imports
Advantage: land use: a nuclear plant needs much less land than solar or wind farms for the same power
Disadvantage: cost: high capital cost, long construction time and risk of delays
Disadvantage: waste: radioactive waste needs long term management
Disadvantage: safety: accidents such as Chernobyl and Fukushima have shown the risks, though rare
Disadvantage: public acceptance: protests at sites like Kudankulam and Jaitapur and issues of land and compensation

What Else Should You Remember?

Installed capacity: India had about 8 gigawatts of nuclear capacity in 22 to 25 reactors, according to the Department of Atomic Energy in the mid 2020s. Check the latest figures
Share: about 3 per cent of electricity generation, compared with over 70 per cent in France
Net zero target: India aims for net zero emissions by 2070 and 500 gigawatts of non-fossil capacity by 2030
Small modular reactors: reactors of under 300 megawatts built in factories. The Budget 2025 Nuclear Energy Mission proposes research and development and at least five indigenously designed Bharat Small Reactors by 2033
Private role: the Atomic Energy Act currently restricts private ownership, and the Government has proposed law changes to allow private companies and foreign firms. Check the latest status
Liability issue: the supplier liability clause deterred foreign vendors such as Westinghouse and GE, and India created an insurance pool in 2015 to reassure them
Foreign reactors: Russian units at Kudankulam are operating, and French and American projects at Jaitapur and Kovvada are stalled or planned, as in Nuclear Reactors in India (Kudankulam Project, Jaitapur Plant)
Regulation: the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board oversees safety, as in Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and Safety Standards in Nuclear Plants
Nuclear Suppliers Group: India is not yet a member of the NSG, which controls nuclear trade, though it gets a waiver
Non-proliferation: India is not a party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty but follows a no first use policy and a voluntary moratorium on testing
Comparison: solar and wind are cheaper to build but variable, so nuclear complements them with steady supply
Thorium: the long-term plan to use thorium reduces fuel dependence, as in India’s Three-Stage Civil Nuclear Programme

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Laws: Atomic Energy Act and CLND Act
Agreements: India-US deal, NSG waiver
Targets: 2047 capacity, SMR mission
Current affairs link: private entry and new reactors
Common errors: saying that nuclear power is the largest source in India or confusing NPCIL with BARC

As an analytical point, nuclear energy can provide firm low carbon power but needs large investment, strong regulation and public trust. Balanced liability rules and transparent siting decisions can help it to grow.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Laws 1962 and 2010
Pros and cons Balanced answer
Targets 2047

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and safety standards. Next topic: Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and Safety Standards in Nuclear Plants.

Key People and Terms

Base load Steady minimum power demand
NPCIL Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited
SMR Small modular reactor
CLND Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage
NSG Nuclear Suppliers Group
IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Atomic Energy Act: 1962; CLND Act: 2010.
India-US 123 Agreement: 2008.
Nuclear share: about 3% of electricity.
Fleet of 10 700 MWe PHWRs approved in 2017.
Budget 2025 Nuclear Energy Mission: Rs 20,000 crore.

Do Not Confuse With

NPCIL and BARC Plant operator versus research centre
CLND Act and Atomic Energy Act Liability law versus main control law
Base load and peak power Steady supply versus demand peaks

Memory Hook

Low carbon, steady supply, high cost, waste and fear; sixty-two the Act, ten the liability law.

Mains Angle

Questions ask to weigh pros and cons. These points give a frame.

Pros Clean and steady
Cons Cost, waste, safety
Policy Law reform

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power for India and the policy steps needed to expand it.”

How to Answer

Role Low carbon base load.
Pros and cons Balanced list.
Policy Liability, private role.
Way SMRs, trust.

GS Relevance

Prelims: laws, NPCIL, capacity targets, liability law, India-US agreement. GS Paper 3: energy, nuclear energy, environment; GS Paper 2: international agreements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the target for nuclear power in India?

India has set a target of about 100 gigawatts of nuclear power capacity by 2047, compared with roughly 8 gigawatts in the mid 2020s. The plan includes large indigenous reactors, imported reactors, small modular reactors under the Nuclear Energy Mission announced in the Budget of 2025, and more private and foreign participation.

What is the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010?

The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 fixes strict, no-fault liability on the operator of a nuclear plant for damage from an accident, sets a cap on total liability and compensation, and gives the operator a right of recourse against suppliers in some cases. This clause on suppliers worried foreign reactor vendors.

What are the advantages of nuclear power?

Nuclear power provides large amounts of steady electricity with very low greenhouse gas emissions, uses little land and little fuel, and reduces dependence on imported coal, oil and gas. It complements solar and wind by supplying power day and night, which is useful as the share of renewable energy rises.

What are the disadvantages of nuclear power?

Nuclear plants have high capital costs and long construction times, produce radioactive waste that needs careful long-term management, carry a small risk of serious accidents, and raise public concern about safety and land. Liability rules and dependence on imported technology have also slowed expansion in India.

What is the India-US civil nuclear agreement?

The India-US civil nuclear agreement, also called the 123 Agreement, was signed in 2008 after the Nuclear Suppliers Group gave India a waiver in September 2008 and India reached an IAEA safeguards agreement. It ended India's nuclear isolation and allowed it to import reactors and fuel for civil use under international safeguards.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act was passed in 2010.

True

It fixes liability on the operator.

2 Nuclear power provides most of India's electricity.

False

It provides about 3 per cent.

3 The India-US civil nuclear agreement was signed in 2008.