India’s atomic power capacity has seen remarkable growth, nearly doubling from 4,780 MW in 2014 to 8,081 MW in 2024. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, in a statement to the Lok Sabha, highlighted that this progress was achieved in just a decade, a milestone that traditionally took over 60 years. The government’s push for political leadership and technical expertise has enabled these strides. By 2031-32, India’s atomic power capacity is projected to triple to 22,480 MW, further solidifying the nation’s leadership in nuclear energy.
Key Milestones and Growth
2014-2024 Growth: India’s atomic power capacity has surged from 4,780 MW to 8,081 MW, doubling in 10 years.
Future Projections: The government aims to reach 22,480 MW by 2031-32, tripling the current capacity.
Political Leadership and Technical Expertise: The significant progress is attributed to a combination of technical advancements and a shift in political leadership, which provided the enabling environment for growth.
Impact on Electricity Distribution
Revised Power-Distribution Formula: A new distribution formula ensures 50% of power stays within the home state, 35% is shared with neighbouring states, and 15% is allocated to the national grid, promoting fairness.
State-Specific Delays: While some delays persist in Tamil Nadu (e.g., Tirunelveli project), plants like Kudankulam and Kalpakkam have gained momentum.
Peaceful Applications of Atomic Energy
Innovative Uses: India’s atomic energy initiatives have benefited sectors like agriculture (through 70 mutagenic crop varieties) and healthcare (cancer treatments using isotopes).
Thorium Reserves and Sustainability: India holds 21% of the world’s thorium reserves, with ongoing projects like the Bhavini program aimed at reducing reliance on uranium.
Summary of the news
| India’s atomic power capacity has nearly doubled from 4,780 MW in 2014 to 8,081 MW in 2024. The government plans to triple it to 22,480 MW by 2031-32, driven by technical advancements and strong political leadership.Why in News | Key Points |
|---|---|
| India’s Atomic Power Capacity | – Capacity has nearly doubled from 4,780 MW in 2014 to 8,081 MW in 2024. |
| – Projected to triple to 22,480 MW by 2031-32. | |
| – Growth driven by technical expertise and strong political leadership. | |
| – Focus on peaceful applications in agriculture and healthcare. | |
| – India holds 21% of the world’s thorium reserves. | |
| – Bhavini project exploring thorium usage to reduce reliance on uranium. | |
| Electricity Distribution Formula | – 50% allocated to the home state, 35% to neighbouring states, and 15% to the national grid. |
| Nuclear Power Plants | – Kudankulam and Kalpakkam plants have gained momentum since 2014. |
| – Delays in Tamil Nadu, including the Tirunelveli project. |
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