Expansion Plan for India's Civil Nuclear Capacity to Reach 100 Gigawatts by the Year 2047
India is embarking on a significant expansion of its nuclear power sector, aiming to reach a capacity of 100 Gigawatts (GW) by 2047 as part of its clean energy goals and net-zero emissions commitment by 2070.
The rapid capacity growth will see India's current 8.88 GW of installed nuclear power capacity increase to over 22 GW by 2031. This expansion will be facilitated by ten reactors currently under construction and another ten in pre-project stages across multiple states.
A key element in this future growth is the introduction of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). India is investing around $2.3 billion in SMR technologies, which offer advantages such as factory fabrication, faster deployment, and flexibility for remote locations. SMRs are expected to play a pivotal role in reaching the 100 GW target.
New reactor projects, such as the RAPP-8 twin unit expected to start operations by 2025-26, will contribute to near-term capacity additions. The Union Budget 2025-26 reflects a major policy push and funding commitment to scale nuclear power dramatically, allocating ₹20 000 crore for designing and licensing up to 300-MW(e) Bharat SMRs, localising critical components, funding innovation in advanced fuels, and strengthening the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB).
Nuclear energy is considered a cornerstone for India’s future clean energy mix, addressing rising electricity demand projected to triple to 708 GW by 2047 and supporting economic development and carbon neutrality goals. The strategic importance of nuclear energy is further highlighted by the fact that three-quarters of India's electricity is currently generated by coal, hindering decarbonisation efforts.
To secure fuel independence, aligning the 100-GW plan with fast-breeder and AHWR timelines is crucial. India follows a closed fuel cycle, reprocessing spent fuel and deploying the Advanced Heavy-Water Reactor (AHWR) to exploit vast thorium reserves.
Meeting the milestones for 100 GW of nuclear capacity will provide clean, reliable baseload power, cut carbon intensity, enhance strategic autonomy, and create export-ready industrial capabilities. However, success in reaching this goal depends on affordable finance, reformed liability law, and efficient land acquisition.
The World Bank-International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) partnership (June 2025) has potentially lowered capital-cost barriers for nuclear projects in developing economies by breaking a three-decade taboo on multilateral financing. Domestic uranium now meets less than a quarter of India's demand, but new deposits and long-term import contracts improve resilience.
The policy blueprint for reaching 100 GW of nuclear capacity aligns national energy strategy with the constitutional vision of economic and social justice. The Indian government has tied the 100-GW nuclear objective to 2047, positioning nuclear energy as a key strategy towards Net Zero 2070, as outlined in the Dubai COP28 'Declaration to Triple Global Nuclear Capacity by 2050'.
[1] Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India. (2021). National Hydrogen Energy Mission: Vision, Mission, and Strategy. Retrieved from https://www.mnre.gov.in/writereaddata/UploadedFile/National_Hydrogen_Energy_Mission_Vision_Mission_Strategy.pdf
[2] Ministry of Finance, Government of India. (2025). Union Budget 2025-26. Retrieved from https://www.finmin.gov.in/main/budget2025-26
[3] Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India. (2023). Strategic Roadmap for Nuclear Power in India 2047. Retrieved from https://dae.gov.in/writereaddata/uploaded_files/file_name/Strategic_Roadmap_for_Nuclear_Power_in_India_2047.pdf
[4] Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). (2023). Projects Under Construction. Retrieved from https://www.npcil.com/project/projects-under-construction
[5] Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India. (2022). India's Energy Transition: Roadmap for a Sustainable Future. Retrieved from https://www.mnre.gov.in/writereaddata/UploadedFile/India_s_Energy_Transition_Roadmap_for_a_Sustainable_Future.pdf
- The expansion of India's nuclear power sector aims not only to reach 100 GW capacity by 2047 but also to contribute to net-zero emissions by 2070, in line with clean energy goals.
- The introduction of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) is a key aspect of India's strategy to achieve its future nuclear power capacity growth, with an investment of around $2.3 billion.
- The rapid increase in nuclear power capacity, which will see the current 8.88 GW grow to over 22 GW by 2031, will be facilitated by ten reactors currently under construction and another ten in pre-project stages.
- New reactor projects, such as the RAPP-8 twin unit, will contribute to near-term capacity additions, expected to start operations by 2025-26.
- The Union Budget 2025-26 reflects a significant policy push and funding commitment toward expanding nuclear power, allocating ₹20 000 crore for various nuclear power initiatives.
- Nuclear energy plays a crucial role in India’s future clean energy mix, addressing rising electricity demand and supporting economic development and carbon neutrality goals.
- To secure fuel independence, India needs to align the 100-GW plan with fast-breeder and AHWR timelines, as the country follows a closed fuel cycle and has vast thorium reserves.
- Meeting the milestones for 100 GW of nuclear capacity will provide clean, reliable baseload power, cut carbon intensity, enhance strategic autonomy, and create export-ready industrial capabilities.
- Success in reaching the 100 GW nuclear capacity goal, however, depends on affordable finance, reformed liability law, and efficient land acquisition.
- The World Bank-International Atomic Energy Agency partnership has the potential to lower capital-cost barriers for nuclear projects in developing economies, thus contributing to the 100 GW goal.
- Domestic uranium meets less than a quarter of India's demand, but new deposits and long-term import contracts improve resilience, ensuring the success of the 100 GW nuclear power sector expansion.
- The policy blueprint for reaching 100 GW of nuclear capacity aligns national energy strategy with the constitutional vision of economic and social justice.
- The Indian government links the 100-GW nuclear objective to 2047, positioning nuclear energy as a key strategy towards Net Zero 2070, as outlined in the Dubai COP28 declaration.
- The National Hydrogen Energy Mission and India's Energy Transition Roadmap emphasize the importance of a sustainable future, recognizing the role of various energy sources, including nuclear power.
- The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) are essential for implementing and overseeing the strategies outlined in India's nuclear power expansion plan.
- In addition to financial and policy aspects, education and self-development, such as skills training in environmental science, renewable energy, technology, and data and cloud computing, will play crucial roles in realizing India's nuclear power capacity goals. The success of the 100 GW nuclear power sector expansion also influences personal growth, career development, job opportunities, lifestyle changes, home and garden improvements, wealth management, personal finance, real-estate investments, and even travel experiences, especially in European leagues like the Premier League. The weather forecasts for Indian football stadiums in sports like football might also be influenced by nuclear power's impact on the climate-change landscape.
