India, Russia Discuss New Nuclear Projects and SMR Cooperation

• DAE and Russia’s Rosatom held talks on expanding nuclear cooperation, including SMRs.
• India developing five indigenous SMRs with ₹20,000 crore outlay under Budget 2025–26.
• BARC advancing designs for BSMR-200, SMR-55 and a high-temperature reactor for hydrogen.
• Atomic Energy Bill 2025 in advanced drafting stage with inter-ministerial inputs.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 3rd Dec: The Government on Wednesday informed Parliament that India and Russia’s Rosatom recently held discussions to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the nuclear energy sector.

The meeting between the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Rosatom covered potential joint projects involving large and small-scale nuclear power plants, expansion of cooperation in the nuclear fuel cycle and opportunities for localizing equipment manufacturing in India. A key area of new collaboration under discussion is the construction of Russian-designed small modular reactors (SMRs) in India.

Under the Nuclear Energy Mission announced in the Union Budget 2025–26, India has set a target to develop and deploy five indigenous SMRs by 2033, backed by an outlay of ₹20,000 crore. DAE said these efforts are progressing through dedicated design and development work at BARC.

BARC has initiated three SMR projects: the 200 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200), the 55 MWe SMR-55 and a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor of up to 5 MWth intended for hydrogen production. The lead demonstration units of these reactors are planned to be constructed at DAE sites and are expected to take 60 to 72 months after project sanctions are granted.

For industrial consumption, NPCIL is moving forward with Bharat Small Reactors (BSR) intended for captive use. An RFP was issued on December 31, 2024 in line with the government-approved business model. NPCIL conducted a pre-proposal meeting in February 2025 to address industry queries, later compiling and publishing all clarifications on its website. Following requests from participating firms, the deadline for RFP submissions has been extended to March 31, 2026.

The Government also informed Parliament that the draft Atomic Energy Bill 2025 is in its final stages of preparation. Inputs from various ministries are being incorporated along with legal vetting by the Ministry of Law and Justice. Policy directives on key provisions are being integrated before the draft is submitted for approval.

Officials said the ongoing coordination reflects India’s intent to scale nuclear capacity, accelerate SMR deployment and update the legal framework governing atomic energy.