India plans at least 5 indigenous small modular reactors by 2033

India is accelerating its nuclear power expansion with a plan to develop and operationalise at least five indigenous small modular reactors (SMRs) by 2033. The initiative is part of the government’s Nuclear Energy Mission, which aims to expand India’s installed nuclear capacity to 100 GW by 2047 and make nuclear power a larger part of the country’s long-term low-carbon energy strategy.

The small-reactor programme is designed to complement India’s conventional large nuclear plants. While large reactors will continue to form an important part of the country’s capacity expansion, SMRs are being developed for applications such as replacing ageing coal-fired plants, providing captive power to energy-intensive industries and supplying electricity to remote or off-grid locations. The government has allocated ₹20,000 crore for the development of indigenous SMR technologies and is also opening the nuclear sector to greater private participation.

Why Is India Developing Small Modular Reactors?

India’s electricity demand is expected to rise significantly as the economy expands, industrial production increases and electrification spreads across transportation and other sectors.

The government wants nuclear power to provide a reliable source of low-carbon electricity alongside renewable energy.

Large nuclear plants can generate substantial amounts of electricity, but they require major investments, long construction periods and suitable sites with access to significant infrastructure.

SMRs offer a different approach.

They are smaller than conventional reactors and are designed to be more flexible in terms of deployment. Their modular architecture could allow components to be manufactured in controlled industrial environments and assembled closer to the eventual project site.

India’s SMR Programme	Details
Target	At least five indigenous SMRs by 2033
Long-term nuclear target	100 GW by 2047
Nuclear Energy Mission allocation	₹20,000 crore
Key development agency	Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
Key designs	BSMR-200, SMR-55 and HTGR
Potential applications	Industry, brownfield sites and remote areas

What Is India’s 2033 Target?

The government is targeting at least five indigenously designed and operational SMRs by 2033.

The target was announced as part of the Nuclear Energy Mission introduced in the Union Budget 2025-26. The government allocated ₹20,000 crore to support research, development and deployment of indigenous SMR technologies.

The programme is intended to move beyond laboratory-level research and demonstrate that Indian-designed small reactors can be built and operated commercially.

The five-reactor target is therefore an important early milestone in a much larger nuclear expansion programme.

Which SMRs Is India Developing?

India is developing multiple reactor designs for different applications rather than relying on a single technology.

The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre is working on the 200-MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor, commonly referred to as BSMR-200. It is intended to provide electricity for energy-intensive industries and could also be used to replace ageing fossil-fuel-based power plants.

Another design is the 55-MWe SMR-55, which is being developed with applications including remote and off-grid power generation.

India is also working on a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor with a thermal capacity of up to 5 MW. This design is being considered for applications including hydrogen production.

These different designs could allow India to use nuclear technology in locations and industries where conventional large reactors are not practical.

How Could SMRs Replace Coal Plants?

One of the most important potential applications for India’s SMRs is the repurposing of existing fossil-fuel power sites.

India has a large fleet of coal-fired power plants, and some older facilities will eventually reach the end of their operating lives.

Existing power sites can have valuable infrastructure, including transmission connections, roads, water systems and industrial facilities.

Deploying smaller nuclear reactors at suitable brownfield locations could potentially allow some of this infrastructure to be reused.

This could reduce the need to develop completely new sites for every nuclear project.

The approach could also help nuclear power become part of India’s transition away from older coal-fired generation.

SMRs Could Provide Captive Power to Industry

Another major application is captive power generation.

Industries such as steel, aluminium, cement and chemicals require large amounts of reliable electricity.

Many of these businesses currently depend on grid power, captive coal generation or other energy sources.

A small nuclear reactor could potentially provide continuous electricity directly to an industrial facility.

Unlike solar and wind generation, nuclear reactors can operate around the clock and are not dependent on weather conditions.

For energy-intensive industries, this reliability could make nuclear power an attractive option as companies seek to reduce emissions while maintaining stable production.

India Wants Indigenous Nuclear Technology

A major objective of the programme is to develop domestic nuclear technology rather than relying primarily on foreign reactor designs.

India has decades of experience developing and operating pressurised heavy water reactors and other nuclear technologies.

The SMR programme builds on that domestic expertise while attempting to create reactor designs that are smaller, more flexible and easier to deploy.

Indigenous development could also strengthen India’s ability to manufacture reactor components domestically.

This could create opportunities for Indian engineering, manufacturing and infrastructure companies as the programme moves from research into commercial deployment.

Private Sector Participation Is Expanding

India has historically maintained strong government control over nuclear power.

That framework is now changing.

The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India, or SHANTI, legislation has opened the door to greater private participation in the nuclear sector under regulatory oversight.

The change is important for the SMR programme because commercial deployment could require far more capital than the government can provide alone.

Private companies could participate in areas such as manufacturing, project development, infrastructure and potentially reactor operations under the new framework.

This could accelerate the development of a domestic nuclear supply chain.

The Nuclear Energy Mission Has a Bigger Goal

The five-SMR target is only one part of India’s broader nuclear strategy.

The government wants to increase installed nuclear capacity to 100 GW by 2047.

India currently has a much smaller nuclear fleet compared with its overall electricity-generation capacity, meaning the target would require a substantial expansion over the next two decades.

The strategy combines large conventional reactors with smaller indigenous reactors.

Large 700-MWe pressurised heavy water reactors are expected to remain an important part of the expansion programme, while SMRs could serve more specialized applications.

Why Nuclear Power Matters for India

India is simultaneously expanding renewable energy and nuclear generation.

Solar and wind power have become major parts of the country’s clean-energy strategy, but renewable generation can fluctuate depending on weather and time of day.

Nuclear power can provide stable electricity with low operational carbon emissions.

This makes nuclear generation potentially valuable for maintaining grid stability as the share of intermittent renewable power increases.

A larger nuclear fleet could therefore complement rather than replace India’s renewable-energy expansion.

SMRs Could Support Remote Areas

The smaller size of SMRs could make them suitable for locations where large nuclear plants would not be economically practical.

Remote industrial sites, isolated communities and regions with limited grid infrastructure could potentially benefit from smaller reactors.

The SMR-55 is being developed with such applications in mind.

However, deploying nuclear technology in remote areas would still require strict safety systems, regulatory oversight, trained personnel and appropriate emergency planning.

The smaller size of a reactor does not eliminate the need for comprehensive nuclear safety measures.

India Faces Significant Development Challenges

Meeting the 2033 target will not be easy.

Developing a new reactor design involves extensive engineering, testing, regulatory review and safety assessment.

Nuclear projects also require significant capital and can take years to move from design approval to commercial operation.

India will need to demonstrate that its indigenous SMR designs can meet technical and safety requirements while also being economically competitive.

The ability to manufacture components at scale will be another major test.

If each reactor requires highly specialized equipment that cannot be produced efficiently in large quantities, the economic benefits of modular construction could be reduced.

Cost Will Determine Commercial Success

SMRs are often promoted as a way to reduce the cost and construction risk associated with nuclear power.

However, smaller reactors do not automatically mean cheaper electricity.

A smaller reactor generates less electricity, while many safety, regulatory and infrastructure requirements remain.

The economic advantage is expected to come from standardized designs, factory manufacturing, repeat construction and shorter project timelines.

India will therefore need to build multiple units using standardized designs if it wants to achieve meaningful economies of scale.

The five-reactor programme could provide an initial demonstration of whether that model works domestically.

India Could Build a Domestic Nuclear Supply Chain

A successful SMR programme could create opportunities across India’s industrial sector.

Engineering companies, heavy-equipment manufacturers, construction firms and specialized component suppliers could become part of the nuclear supply chain.

The programme could also encourage investment in advanced manufacturing and nuclear-grade components.

Over time, India could potentially develop capabilities that support not only domestic projects but also exports of reactor technology and components.

This would give the nuclear programme an industrial-policy dimension beyond electricity generation.

Global Competition in SMRs Is Growing

India is entering a global market where several countries are developing their own small-reactor technologies.

The United States, Russia, China, South Korea and other countries are investing in different SMR designs and commercial applications.

The international competition means India will need to move quickly if it wants its indigenous technology to become commercially competitive.

The country’s advantages include a large domestic energy market, a substantial engineering workforce and decades of nuclear operating experience.

However, international competitors are also moving toward demonstration and commercial deployment.

The Programme Could Change India’s Energy Mix

If the SMR programme succeeds, nuclear power could become significantly more important in India’s energy mix.

The technology could provide reliable electricity for industries while helping reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

It could also provide an additional source of low-carbon electricity alongside India’s rapidly expanding renewable-energy capacity.

The broader objective is not simply to build five reactors by 2033.

The five-unit target is intended to establish the technological and industrial foundation for much larger nuclear deployment over the following decade.

Looking Ahead

India’s plan to operationalise at least five indigenous small modular reactors by 2033 is an important early milestone in its strategy to expand nuclear power. With ₹20,000 crore allocated to the Nuclear Energy Mission, the government is supporting the development of multiple reactor designs, including the BSMR-200, SMR-55 and a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor. The programme is also being supported by greater private-sector participation as India attempts to build a larger domestic nuclear industry.

The bigger test will be whether India can turn its indigenous SMR designs into commercially viable projects at scale. Successful deployment could allow smaller reactors to replace ageing fossil-fuel facilities, provide captive power to energy-intensive industries and support remote locations while complementing renewable energy. If the first five reactors are delivered successfully by 2033, they could provide the technological, regulatory and industrial foundation needed for India’s much larger ambition of reaching 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047.