{"id":352349,"date":"2025-12-19T20:52:47","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T15:22:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/?p=352349"},"modified":"2025-12-22T19:44:28","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T14:14:28","slug":"a-bold-step-amid-an-ambitious-nuclear-energy-target","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/a-bold-step-amid-an-ambitious-nuclear-energy-target\/","title":{"rendered":"A Bold Step Amid an Ambitious Nuclear Energy Target"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>UPSC Syllabus Topic:<\/strong> <strong>GS Paper 3 &#8211;<\/strong>Infrastructure ( Energy)<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Introduction<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>A bold step amid an ambitious nuclear energy target<\/strong> reflects India\u2019s effort to align <strong>human development goals<\/strong> with <strong>long-term energy security<\/strong>. Human development rises with energy use, and India\u2019s aspiration to reach high development levels requires <strong>massive, reliable, and clean energy generation<\/strong>. <strong>Decarbonisation pressures<\/strong>, <strong>limits of renewables<\/strong>, and <strong>rising digital and industrial demand<\/strong> make <strong>nuclear energy central<\/strong> to India\u2019s future energy strategy. <strong>A Bold Step Amid an Ambitious Nuclear Energy Target.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-352531\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/A-Bold-Step-Amid-an-Ambitious-Nuclear-Energy-Target.png?resize=300%2C199&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"A Bold Step Amid an Ambitious Nuclear Energy Target\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/A-Bold-Step-Amid-an-Ambitious-Nuclear-Energy-Target.png?resize=300%2C199&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/A-Bold-Step-Amid-an-Ambitious-Nuclear-Energy-Target.png?resize=1024%2C680&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/A-Bold-Step-Amid-an-Ambitious-Nuclear-Energy-Target.png?resize=768%2C510&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/A-Bold-Step-Amid-an-Ambitious-Nuclear-Energy-Target.png?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Why energy matters for development?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Energy and development link:<\/strong> In early stages, humans needed energy only for food. With hunting, agriculture, industry, and transport, <strong>energy demand expanded steadily<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong> Digital era energy demand:<\/strong> The present phase of development is driven by <strong>digital technologies<\/strong>. Digitalisation increases <strong>electricity demand across services, industry, and infrastructure<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>HDI as a yardstick:<\/strong> The <strong>Human Development Index<\/strong> combines <strong>income, education, and health<\/strong>. Higher HDI levels require <strong>higher per capita final energy consumption<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>HDI\u2013energy correlation:<\/strong> Using the correlation between <strong>HDI and final energy consumption<\/strong>, energy needs can be estimated for <strong>specific development levels<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><strong>India\u2019s Energy Gap and Decarbonisation Challenge<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>High Development Requires Massive Energy Generation:<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li>To reach an <strong>HDI of 0.9<\/strong>, India needs to generate about <strong>24,000 Terra-Watt-Hours (TWh) per annum<\/strong>, a level associated with <strong>very high human development<\/strong>.<br \/>\n\u2022 About <strong>60%<\/strong> of this energy will be used as <strong>electricity<\/strong>, while the rest will be used to produce <strong>hydrogen in electrolysers<\/strong>.<br \/>\n\u2022 Hydrogen is required to decarbonise sectors such as <strong>steel, fertilisers, and plastics<\/strong>, although future technologies may reduce electricity needs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><strong> Large gap between current and required generation:<\/strong> India generated about <strong>1,950 TWh in 2023\u201324<\/strong>, with a recent growth rate of <strong>~4.8% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)<\/strong>. At this pace, reaching <strong>24,000 TWh<\/strong> will take <strong>four to five decades<\/strong>, making <strong>long-term energy planning essential<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Decarbonisation alongside expansion:<\/strong> Electricity generation must expand while <strong>carbon emissions decline<\/strong>. This requires <strong>end-use electrification<\/strong> and a shift away from a <strong>fossil-fuel-heavy energy mix<\/strong> towards <strong>cleaner sources<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Low role of electricity in energy use:<\/strong> Electricity is only about <strong>22% of India\u2019s final energy consumption<\/strong> today. This share must rise because India has to <strong>electrify end uses<\/strong> and also <strong>redesign its energy mix<\/strong> away from fossil fuels towards <strong>hydro, nuclear, solar, and wind<\/strong> to reduce carbon emissions.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><strong>Why Renewables Alone Are Not Enough<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Physical and geographical limits:<\/strong> India has <strong>limited hydro and wind potential<\/strong>. Its <strong>dense population<\/strong> makes it difficult to divert large areas of land for <strong>solar photovoltaic deployment<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Inadequate energy supply for high development:<\/strong> Even if the full potential of <strong>hydro, solar, and wind<\/strong> is used, these sources cannot provide the energy level needed to achieve an <strong>HDI above 0.9<\/strong>. Until <strong>nuclear capacity is expanded<\/strong>, <strong>fossil fuels will continue<\/strong> to be used.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Intermittent nature of renewable power:<\/strong> Electricity from solar and wind varies with <strong>time of day and season<\/strong>. This makes it difficult to match electricity supply with demand.<\/li>\n<li><strong>High cost of large-scale storage:<\/strong> Balancing variable renewable generation requires storage. Storage is <strong>expensive<\/strong>, and providing storage for <strong>seasonal variations<\/strong> is <strong>prohibitively costly<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Need for reliable baseload generation:<\/strong> To provide <strong>affordable electricity<\/strong>, the power mix must include generation that is not dependent on seasons or time of day. <strong>Nuclear power plants provide such baseload electricity<\/strong> and are therefore essential for a <strong>decarbonised energy mix<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><strong>Nuclear Energy as the Development Anchor<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong> Need for Baseload: <\/strong>A reliable energy system needs generation that runs continuously. <strong>Baseload power keeps electricity affordable<\/strong>.<br \/>\n<strong>2. Stable Power Supply:<\/strong> Nuclear plants operate independent of weather or time of day. They provide <strong>steady electricity supply<\/strong>.<br \/>\n<strong>3. Clean Growth Support: <\/strong>Nuclear power reduces emissions while meeting rising demand. It allows development without energy shortages.<br \/>\n<strong>4. Fossil Bridge Needed:<\/strong> Until nuclear capacity expands, <strong>fossil fuels will continue<\/strong> to bridge the gap between demand and clean energy.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><strong>India\u2019s Nuclear Readiness and Policy Push<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Indigenous capability and reactor readiness<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Indigenous supply chain:<\/strong> India has indigenised the nuclear supply chain. Only <strong>uranium is imported<\/strong> due to limited domestic availability.<br \/>\n\u2022 <strong>PHWR capability (700 MW):<\/strong> India has mastered <strong>Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR)<\/strong> design and operation up to <strong>700 MW<\/strong>. <strong>Three units are working<\/strong> and more are under construction.<br \/>\n\u2022 <strong>Expansion sanctioned (2017):<\/strong> The government sanctioned <strong>ten 700 MW PHWRs<\/strong> in <strong>2017<\/strong>. Work on these units is progressing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><strong>Regulation, safety, and waste handling capacity<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Regulatory strength:<\/strong> A regulatory body exists since the <strong>1980s<\/strong>. It has the capacity to regulate nuclear plants.<br \/>\n\u2022 <strong>Fuel reprocessing:<\/strong> India has developed technologies to reprocess spent fuel. This helps recover valuable materials.<br \/>\n\u2022 <strong>Waste management:<\/strong> Systems exist to handle nuclear waste. This supports safe nuclear operations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><strong>Fuel security and long-term sustainability<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>New uranium discovery and Jaduguda:<\/strong> New discoveries improve fuel security. A major find extends <strong>Jaduguda mine life by over 50 years<\/strong>.<br \/>\n\u2022 <strong>Closed fuel cycle and PFBR:<\/strong> Progress in the closed fuel cycle has been made. <strong>Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR)<\/strong> milestones support sustainable fuel supply.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li><strong> Policy target and enabling law<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>100 GW target:<\/strong> The government targets <strong>100 GW nuclear installed capacity by mid-century<\/strong>. This reflects scale-up ambition.<br \/>\n\u2022 <strong>SHANTI Bill, 2025:<\/strong> The <strong>Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025<\/strong> merges key provisions of earlier nuclear laws. It provides an overarching legal framework.<br \/>\n\u2022 <strong>AERB legal status:<\/strong> <strong>Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB)<\/strong> is deemed constituted under the new Act. This gives legal clarity to regulation.<br \/>\n\u2022 <strong>Licensee responsibility:<\/strong> <strong>Safety, security, and safeguards<\/strong> are assigned to the licensee. This fixes responsibility clearly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"5\">\n<li><strong>Institutional mechanism for faster expansion<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>ASHVINI joint venture:<\/strong> <strong>Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)<\/strong> and <strong>NTPC<\/strong> formed <strong>ASHVINI<\/strong>. It aims to develop nuclear power plants within the existing legal framework.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>India\u2019s development goals need a huge rise in <strong>clean and reliable energy<\/strong>. Renewable sources alone cannot meet this scale due to <strong>land limits<\/strong> and <strong>intermittency<\/strong>, and storage is costly. Nuclear power gives <strong>steady baseload electricity<\/strong> and supports <strong>decarbonisation<\/strong>. India\u2019s proven <strong>PHWR capability<\/strong> and the <strong>SHANTI Bill<\/strong> strengthen the push towards the <strong>100 GW target by mid-century<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Question for practice:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Discuss why nuclear energy is essential for India\u2019s long-term development and clean energy transition.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Source<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/a-bold-step-amid-an-ambitious-nuclear-energy-target\/article70412631.ece\"><strong>The Hindu<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 &#8211;Infrastructure ( Energy) Introduction A bold step amid an ambitious nuclear energy target reflects India\u2019s effort to align human development goals with long-term energy security. Human development rises with energy use, and India\u2019s aspiration to reach high development levels requires massive, reliable, and clean energy generation. Decarbonisation pressures, limits&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/a-bold-step-amid-an-ambitious-nuclear-energy-target\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">A Bold Step Amid an Ambitious Nuclear Energy Target<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10320,"featured_media":352531,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1230],"tags":[216,8684,10498],"class_list":["post-352349","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-9-pm-daily-articles","tag-gs-paper-3","tag-infrastructure-energy","tag-the-hindu","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/A-Bold-Step-Amid-an-Ambitious-Nuclear-Energy-Target.png?fit=1280%2C850&ssl=1","views":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/352349","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10320"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=352349"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/352349\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/352531"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=352349"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=352349"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=352349"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}