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Chennai: India's fast breeder reactor programme achieved twin milestones this week. The Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam, marked 40 years of attaining first criticality. Meanwhile, engineers began loading fuel into the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR), the country's most advanced and complex atomic power plant.Officials said the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) recently granted permission for fuel loading into the 500 MWe PFBR being developed by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam (BHAVINI) at Kalpakkam. The reactor is expected to achieve first criticality within six months of fuel loading, after which power generation will be gradually increased to full capacity.Once commissioned, the PFBR will be only the second reactor of its kind in the world after Russia's 800 MWe fast breeder reactor. The project marks the second stage of India's three-stage nuclear power programme, designed to recycle spent fuel and reduce radioactive waste. The PFBR uses plutonium-based mixed oxide as fuel and will later transition to thorium, a resource in which India has large reserves. The reactor uses liquid sodium as a coolant and will utilize spent fuel from the Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) that currently form the backbone of India's nuclear power.Meanwhile, IGCAR celebrated the 40th anniversary of FBTR's first criticality with a commemorative event. During the event, IGCAR director C G Karhadkar handed over the separated Phosphorus-32 (P-32) radioisotope to Pradip Mukherjee, chief executive, Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT). The isotope, used for radiopharmaceutical applications, was obtained for the first time at IGCAR by irradiating Strontium Sulphate (SrSO₄) pellets in FBTR.FBTR is a 40 MWt, 13.6 MWe sodium-cooled, loop-type fast breeder reactor that uses a mixed plutonium-uranium carbide core as fuel. Designed as a test facility, it has provided operational experience and served as an R&D platform for irradiation studies on fuels and materials for future fast breeder reactors.
New Delhi: The Centre is exploring the option of converting retired coal-based power plants to nuclear plants, said two people in the know of the developments. The need for conversion arises due to the requirement of large land parcels for nuclear plants even as the government aims to install over 22 GW of nuclear capacity by 2032 and 100 GW by 2047 from the current 8.7 GW. The government has already asked states to come up with plans to set up at least one nuclear plant each. "The possibility of converting retired thermal plants is being looked at and talks are underway within the governme ...Read More >
Chennai: India's fast breeder reactor programme achieved twin milestones this week. The Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam, marked 40 years of attaining first criticality. Meanwhile, engineers began loading fuel into the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR), the country's most advanced and complex atomic power plant.Officials said the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) recently granted permission for fuel loading into the 500 MW ...Read More >
CHENNAI: The Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) in Kalpakkam has marked 40 years since the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) first went critical on 18 October 1985, celebrating the milestone of India's pioneering indigenous fast breeder programme. The 40 MWt/13.6 MWe sodium-cooled reactor has remained central to India's nuclear advancement, conceived as a test bed for advanced fuels and structural materials. Over four decades, it has generated vital operational data that has informed the design and development of the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) and future reactor system ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: In a big boost for India's civil nuclear energy production, the indigenously designed and built Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu has attained criticality.Congratulating Indian scientists and engineers on the reactor attaining criticality, PM Narendra Modi posted on X, "Today, India takes a defining step in its civil nuclear journey, advancing the second stage of its nuclear programme."This advanced reactor, capable of producing more fuel than it consumes, reflects the depth of our scientific capability and the strength of our engineering enterprise. I ...Read More >
New Delhi: Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) Pralhad Joshi on Wednesday said that India has ranked third globally in renewable energy installed capacity, surpassing Brazil. According to the latest data released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), domestic installed renewable energy capacity stood at 250.52 GW as of December 2025, placing the country behind China and the US, while moving ahead of Brazil and Germany in the global rankings. The minister told the media that the country added a record 55.3 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity during 2025-26, which is ...Read More >
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Mahi Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Power Project, a 2,800 MW nuclear plant developed by NPCIL-NTPC, with an investment of Rs 42,000 crore. This project, along with other energy initiatives exceeding Rs 51,000 crore, aims to supply reliable power, create employment, and boost economic growth in Rajasthan. The 2,800 MW Mahi Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Power Project, developed by a NPCIL-NTPC joint venture at an investment of around Rs 42,000 crore in Rajastha ...Read More >
New Delhi, Oct 17 (PTI) India's most complex atomic power plant -- the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor -- moved a step forward as engineers started loading fuel into the unit, which will be the only second of its kind in the world. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) granted permission for loading fuel into the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor being developed by the Bhartiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam (BHAVINI) at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu. "We faced technical problems in loading the fuel in March last year. We have solved those problems, and got the regulatory clearance to load fuel on ...Read More >
New Delhi: The government on Monday failed to introduce a Bill that sought to repeal the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and replace it with a proposed law -- The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB G RAM G) Bill, 2025 -- after facing stiff opposition. The VB G RAM G Bill was listed in the Lok Sabha in the supplementary list of business issued on Monday. It was to be introduced by rural development minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. "Why is Mahatma Gandhi's name being removed? Mahatma Gandhi is considered the tallest leader not j ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 17 (ANI): Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Atomic Energy Jitendra Singh on Wednesday addressed questions raised by Opposition MPs regarding the recently tabled 'The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Bill, 2025'. Taking part in the debate in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Singh said that certain Opposition MPs were pushing "contradictory" facts and statements. He said that a lot of provisions mentioned in the new bill were already there in the previous legislation. "There were certain obje ...Read More >
Lucknow, Apr 7 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Tamil Nadu's Kalpakkam stands as a symbol of India's technological excellence and national ambition. He said the achievement reinforces India's rise as a global energy leader. In an X post, Adityanath said, "India enters a new era of nuclear strength. The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam stands as a symbol of our technological excellence and national ambition. By harnessing our vast thorium reserves, Bharat is taking a decisive step towards energy supremacy and l ...Read More >
A Russian strike on a nine-story building in the city of Sumy in northern Ukraine killed eight people and wounded dozens, an official said Sunday (November 17, 2024), as Russia launched a massive drone and missile attack described by officials as the largest in recent months. "Among the eight killed in Sumy, 40 kilometers (24 miles) from the border with Russia, were two children," said Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko. More than 400 people were evacuated from the building. Ukraine's Zelenskyy urges allies to take steps before North Korean troops reach the front The rescu ...Read More >
India will be able to address the apprehensions of the private sector globally about investments in the civil nuclear sector, which was opened up to achieve the ambitious target of producing 100 GW of atomic power by 2047, Union Minister Jitendra Singh has asserted. Mr. Singh, who oversees the Department of Atomic Energy, said changes in relevant rules and legislations will have to be made to facilitate the entry of the private sector in the field of nuclear energy, which currently is under tigh ...Read More >
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced that the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu has attained criticality, marking a major milestone in India's "civil nuclear journey". The Prime Minister described the development as a "defining step" that advances the second stage of India's three-stage nuclear programme. "India takes a defining step in its civil nuclear journey, advancing the second stage of its nuclear programme," he said in a post on X. The PFBR, which has been indigenously designed and built, is capable of producing more fuel than it ...Read More >
Surat (Gujarat) [India], April 7 (ANI): India possesses vast nuclear energy resources, particularly thorium reserves, that can generate around 5,000 units of electricity per person per year for nearly 500 years, but greater public awareness is needed to address safety concerns and accelerate adoption. Speaking to ANI on India's advancing nuclear programme, Senior Scientist, Department of Atomic Energy, Neelam Goyal said that electricity remains the backbone of India's economy, supporting agriculture, industry and services. Also Read | 'Completely False': Sundar C and Wife Khushbu Slam Fake M ...Read More >
Over the course of the day, PM Modi logged nearly 4.5 hours of air travel, including 2 hours of chopper rides, to connect with people and projects across multiple states Prime Minister Narendra Modi's day on September 25th was marked by a hectic schedule and diverse engagements, reflecting both his pace of work and his outreach across multiple sectors, despite being on a 9-day fast during Navratri. Over the course of the day, PM Modi logged nearly 4.5 hours of air travel, including 2 hours of c ...Read More >
New Delhi, Apr 2 (PTI) NTPC on Thursday said it generated 432.2 billion units of electricity and achieved highest every capacity addition of 9,619 MW in fiscal year 2025-26. NTPC added 5,488 MW of renewable capacity in FY26 across solar, wind, and Pumped Storage Projects (PSP), a company statement said. In FY26, NTPC achieved coal production of 48.65 million tonne, registering a steady 6.22 per cent year-on-year (YoY) growth. The company also recorded a strong growth in power trading, with 46.52 billion units traded in FY26, marking 13 per cent year-on-year growth. NTPC achieved 105 per cent ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said India had taken a "defining step" in its civil nuclear journey after the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam attained criticality, marking a major milestone in the country's nuclear energy programme.In a post on X, PM Modi said the indigenously designed and built reactor represented progress in the second stage of India's three-stage nuclear programme and underlined the country's long-term goal of tapping its large thorium reserves."Today, India takes a defining step in its civil nuclear journey, advancing the second stage o ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced that indigenously designed and built 500 megawatt Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam has attained criticality -- which means that it is producing more nuclear fuel than it is consume. This makes India only the second country to run breeder reactors after Russia. Criticality means the start of controlled fission chain reaction: In the PFBR, it means producing more nuclear fuel and electric power. The PFBR runs on a mix of Plutonium-239 (the 'fire) and Uranium-238 ('the breeding ground'). This mix fires atomic particle ...Read More >
New Delhi, April 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The International Energy Agency (IEA) on Wednesday praised India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the successful achievement of the first criticality of the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR), calling it an important technological milestone. In a post on X, the global energy body lauded Indian scientists and engineers for the achievement, which comes after years of development. The IEA said the reactor will use significantly less nuclear fuel compared to conventional reactors and would help pave the way for a "pathway towards a closed fuel cy ...Read More >
New Delhi: Two major reform bills-one to open up and modernise India's nuclear energy sector, and another to overhaul higher education regulation-alongside a proposal to repeal 71 obsolete laws were introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday. The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025, aims to unlock India's nuclear power potential by replacing the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010. The move is significant as India targets a sharp expansion in nuclear capacity to support its clean energy transi ...Read More >
New Delhi: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday described the government's nuclear energy bill as a "dangerous leap into privatised nuclear expansion" without adequate safeguards and asserted that the pursuit of capital cannot be allowed to override the requirements of public safety, environmental protection and victim justice. Participating in a debate on the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill in the Lok Sabha, Tharoor claimed that the proposed legislation is ridden with exceptions, heavy on discretion and largely indifferent to p ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], April 8 (ANI): NTPC Limited has entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Électricite de France (EDF) to jointly explore opportunities for developing nuclear power projects in India. This follows approval from the concerned ministries & departments of the Government of India. The MoU was signed by Arnada Prasad Samal, CGM (Nuclear Cell), on behalf of NTPC, and Vakisasi Ramany, Senior Vice President, International Nuclear Development, on behalf of EDF. According to a statement released by NTPC, "The MoU establishes a framework for both companies to ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], April 6 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday lauded India's first indigenous Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam for attaining criticality, calling it a "defining step in India's civil nuclear journey". In a post on X, the PM reflected on the strengths of the reactor and recognised this as a "decisive step towards harnessing our vast thorium reserves." Expressing pride over the achievement, the PM congratulated the scientists and engineers involved in the programme. Also Read | Breach of Discipline During PM Modi Rally: Kerala Police Begins Probe Into Offi ...Read More >
New Delhi, Apr 6 (PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday congratulated scientists for building the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam as it attained criticality, a development he described as a "new epoch" in India's civil nuclear programme. India's 500 Mwe-Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) in Tamil Nadu's Kalpakkam achieved first criticality, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Monday. First criticality in a fast breeder reactor is the moment when the nuclear chain reaction becomes self-sustaining. In a post on X, Shah said, "New epoch in our civil nuclear program. ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: India has taken a major step towards nuclear fuel self-reliance after its indigenously developed Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam attained criticality, marking the start of a controlled nuclear reaction and advancing the country's long-term atomic energy programme.The milestone, confirmed on Monday, marks a crucial stage before full power generation begins. Once operational, the reactor is expected to play a key role in India's plan to scale nuclear power capacity to 100 gigawatts by 2047, from the current level of around eight gigawatts.Prime Minister Narendra Mod ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: India's new approach to treat any act of terror as an act of war has added a new dimension to the Navy's operational outlook after the conduct of Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi said Friday."We must be prepared for this new normal," the Navy chief said at an investiture ceremony here. Over 35 Indian warships and submarines led by aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, with its MiG-29K fighters, were forward deployed in a dissuasive deterrent posture against Pakistan in the northern Arabian Sea last month."Our ships, submarines and aircraft were operationally rea ...Read More >
New Delhi, April 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hailed the country's scientists for indigenously designing and building the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu. The Prime Minister said that India has taken a defining step in its civil nuclear journey, advancing the second stage of its nuclear programme. "The indigenously designed and built Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam has attained criticality," he said. The Prime Minister added that this advanced reactor, capable of producing more fuel than it consumes, reflects the depth of th ...Read More >
CHENNAI: India on Monday achieved a major milestone in its civil nuclear programme, with the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam attaining criticality, the stage at which a controlled, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction begins. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it as a "defining step" in advancing the second stage of India's nuclear programme. "The indigenously designed and built Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam has attained criticality... a decisive step towards harnessing our vast thorium reserves," he said in a post on X, congratulating scientists and eng ...Read More >
New Delhi, Apr 7 (PTI) With India's first indigenous prototype fast breeder reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu attaining criticality on Monday, experts said the development is a significant boost to the country's three-stage nuclear programme. Formulated in the 1950s by Dr Homi Bhabha, the programme seeks to make India self-reliant in the nuclear power sector by exploiting the vast thorium reserves found in the monazite sands of the coastal regions of south India. Talking to PTI, Debasish Mishra, partner at Deloitte India, said, "The PFBR reaching criticality is a seminal moment in In ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], April 6 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday lauded India's first indigenous Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam for attaining criticality, calling it a "defining step in India's civil nuclear journey". In a post on X, the PM reflected on the strengths of the reactor and recognised this as a "decisive step towards harnessing our vast thorium reserves." Expressing pride over the achievement, the PM congratulated the scientists and engineers involved in the programme. "Today, India takes a defining step in its civil nuclear journey, advancing the second stag ...Read More >