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The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR), located at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research campus in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, is operated by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI). Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hailed a major milestone in India's civil nuclear programme, announcing that the indigenously built Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, has attained 'criticality'. Notably, 'criticality' refers to the stage at which a nuclear reactor achieves a self-sustaining chain reaction. It is a crucial milestone before full-scale power generation, indicating that the reactor core is operating as intended. PM Modi congratulates scientists and engineers "Today, India takes 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," the Prime Minister said in a post. He noted that the advanced reactor, which can produce more fuel than it consumes, showcases India's scientific capabilities and engineering strength. Calling it a "proud moment," PM Modi congratulated the scientists and engineers behind the achievement. India clears a major nuclear milestone According to the Department of Atomic Energy, the 500 MWe PFBR reaching first criticality marks a historic step, as it signifies the initiation of a sustained nuclear chain reaction. With this development, India formally enters the second stage of its three-stage nuclear power programme envisioned by Homi Jehangir Bhabha, aimed at eventually utilising the country's vast thorium reserves. The PFBR has been indigenously designed by the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) and constructed by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI), reflecting decades of scientific collaboration and technological advancement. Officials said fast breeder reactor technology allows more efficient use of nuclear fuel and is key to strengthening India's long-term energy security. About India's three-stage Nuclear programme India's nuclear energy strategy, led by the Department of Atomic Energy, follows a three-stage programme designed to maximise the use of limited uranium reserves while tapping into the country's vast thorium resources for long-term energy security. The programme is based on a closed nuclear fuel cycle. In the first stage, natural uranium is used in Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), which are already operational at an industrial scale. In the second stage, plutonium extracted from the spent fuel of these reactors is used in Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs), such as the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) being commissioned at Kalpakkam by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI). In the third stage, thorium, considered a virtually inexhaustible resource, will be utilised on a large scale. This stage will rely on uranium-233, which is bred in Fast Breeder Reactors once sufficient nuclear capacity has been established.
Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], June 28 (ANI): Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Saturday visited the site of the world's largest upcoming Hybrid Renewable Energy (RE) Park near Khavda and held a review meeting with representatives from various companies. On this occasion, he inspected the progress of solar and wind energy generation from the Central Control Room, reviewed the ongoing work with officials, and offered guidance to further advance the vision of green energy, said release. To pave the way for a Viksit Gujarat through green growth, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid th ...Read More >
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 >
PATNA, July 19 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, said that around 76,000 StartUps in India today are women-led and a large number of them from Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns. The Minister said that India's path to becoming a developed nation by 2047 will be led by empowered women and youth, as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi under the paradigm of women-led development ...Read More >
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Bihar and West Bengal on August 22. He will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate multiple development projects worth around Rs 13,000 crore at Gaya in Bihar at around 11 am. He will also flag off two trains and address the gathering. Thereafter, he will visit and inaugurate the Aunta-Simaria bridge project on the River Ganga. PM Modi will also flag off metro train services on the newly constructed sections in Kolkata at around 4:15 pm and undertake a metro ride from Jessore Road Metro Station to Jai Hind Bimanbandar and back. Further, he ...Read More >
New Delhi, Aug 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) Amid global geopolitical and supply chain volatility, Xiabing Feng, Principal Commercial Officer, US Embassy in India on Tuesday said that the US is committed to collaborate with India in terms of exporting high-quality products and services for India to achieve energy security and economic growth. Addressing the "3rd Energy Summit of the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce", the top official of the US Embassy in the national capital also noted that collaboration between both the countries can drive transformative change in the global energy space. "As we loo ...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, Oct 24 - Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the past decade has witnessed a remarkable transformation in government recruitment, with the total number of appointments made through the Staff Selection Commission, Railway Recruitment Board and UPSC rising from about 7.22 lakh in the previous decade to 10.96 lakh in the last ten years -- an increase of more than 50%. The Minister re ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): The Central government has raised financial limits under the General Financial Rules (GFRs) for procurement of scientific equipment and consumables. The simplification of GFRs will reduce delays and enhance autonomy and flexibility for the research organisations. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi To Visit Odisha on June 20 To Attend BJP Govt's First Anniversary Function, Says State Minister Suresh Pujari. Under the new rules, the Finance Ministry said that Vice Chancelors, Dierectors and academic institutions under specified departments and ministries will be abl ...Read More >
VISAKHAPATNAM: Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar inaugurated Andhra Pradesh's first Super ECBC (Energy Conservation Building Code) compliant building at Sagar Nagar in Visakhapatnam on Friday. Terming it a landmark in sustainable infrastructure, he emphasised the government's commitment to energy efficiency and green design in public facilities. The facility will serve as a national-level training hub for power sector staff. He urged power utilities to expedite 20 lakh rooftop solar connections, targeting 10,000 in each Assembly segment. He reaffirmed nine-hour uninterrupted power for agri ...Read More >
Chandigarh: Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday said the state govt was consistently working to provide better resources to the doctors and quality healthcare services to the citizens.He mentioned that medical colleges were being established in every district.While there were only six medical colleges in 2014, the number has now increased to 15, and nine new colleges are under construction. As a result, MBBS seats in the state increased from 700 in 2014 to 2,185, at present. The state govt aims to increase the MBBS seats to over 3,400 by 2029, said Saini.The CM was addressing a ...Read More >
Ahmedabad, July 14 (PTI) The Gujarat High Court on Monday directed a man, facing contempt of court for attending a virtual court hearing while relieving himself on a toilet seat, to deposit Rs 1 lakh with the court's registry after observing that he was ready to tender an unconditional apology. The incident occurred on June 20 when Justice Nirzar S Desai was hearing a case. A video of the man soon went viral, prompting the high court to initiate suo motu contempt proceedings. On Monday, the division bench of Justices AS Supehia and RT Vachhani directed the man, identified as Samad Abdul Rehm ...Read More >
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to launch a series of development projects worth approximately Rs 2,200 crore in Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency. These initiatives span across infrastructure, education, healthcare, tourism, and cultural heritage, aiming for holistic urban transformation and improved quality of life. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch multiple development projects worth around Rs 2,200 crore for Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency, on Saturday. A statemen ...Read More >
MUMBAI: ICICI Bank has rolled back its rule requiring new savings accounts opened after Aug 1 to maintain a monthly average balance (MAB) of Rs 50,000 and has revised the threshold to Rs 15,000. The move follows a social media backlash against the higher balance requirement, which was criticised for making banking exclusive.The bank said it has revised its schedule of charges and MAB requirements following customer feedback. The changes do not apply to salary accounts, senior citizens above 60 years, basic accounts/PM Jan Dhan Yojana accounts, or those opened before July 31, 2025.Meanwhile, HD ...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: A team of Indian officials led by commerce secretary Rajesh Agarwal is once again headed to the US for talks on the proposed bilateral trade deal, amid indications that Trump administration is keen to move ahead.Officials indicated that delegation would visit Washington this week itself as the two sides seek to thrash out a deal in a few weeks. The move comes just a day after US ambassador-designate Sergio Gor met PM Modi and held discussions with Agrawal. "During my visit to India, I ...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 >
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 >
Shimla: Heavy rains lashed Himachal Pradesh on Sunday, triggering landslides and flash floods and blocking more than 100 roads, even as the weather department issued a red alert.A landslide at Chakki Mod near Parwanoo blocked the Chandigarh-Shimla highway for hours, resulting in a massive traffic jam Sunday morning. The local administration had to divert traffic through the Jangeshu link road until the landslide debris was cleared at Chakki Mod.The traffic was first restored one-way and later two-way, but the traffic jam continued on both sides of the highway throughout the day due to slow veh ...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: The Russian Foreign Ministry has sent out a strong message at a time when the United States has moved ahead with steep tariffs on Indian goods. Moscow said India continues to stand by Russia and called the bond between the two nations firm and enduring. The ministry underlined that every attempt to weaken this relationship will collapse before it even begins. Speaking to RT, the Russian official welcomed India's decision to keep cooperation alive despite external pressure and constant warnings. He said India has shown commitment, not hesitation, in advancing ties with Moscow. The m ...Read More >
New Delhi: India has achieved 50 per cent non-fossil fuel-based power generation capacity of 242.8 GW out of the total 484.8 GW installed capacity, five years ahead of its 2030 target, Union New & Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Monday. India has set an ambitious target of having 500 GW of renewable energy-based electricity generation by 2030. In a tweet, Pralhad Joshi appreciates the effort of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of transform India into a greener country. He says, " Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji's leadership continues to drive Bharat's green transformation -- pav ...Read More >
Guwahati, Jul 15 (PTI) Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will visit Assam on Wednesday during which they will interact with party functionaries of the state. State Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi said the district, block and mandal presidents of the party will be able to present their views before its top leadership during Kharge and Gandhi's visit. Also Read | Did Lucknow Court Judge Take Selfie With Rahul Gandhi During Hearing of Indian Army 'Defamation' Case? BJP's Amit Malviya Found Fake in Fact Check. "I look forward to welcoming Shri ...Read More >
Jammu, Sep 14: Union Minister of State in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh on Sunday positioned Jammu and Kashmir as not just a "region but the ideological soul of the Bharatiya Janata Party". He stated that the sacrifices made in J&K wrote chapters of India's political history that would continue to guide the party's mission. The Union Minister was addressing BJP party workers in Jammu on Sunday during an organisational workshop at the party headquarters at Trikuta Nagar, Jammu. Dr Jitendra, who is also the Union Minister of State (independent charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, be ...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, Oct 5 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology; MoS PMO; Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions; Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, called upon ministries and departments to transform the Government's ongoing cleanliness initiative into a mass movement that combines public participation, innovation and private sector engagement. At a high-level review meeting on the implementation of Special Campaign 5.0, Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized the need to move beyond symbolic efforts and institutionalize cleanliness, s ...Read More >
New Delhi: India and Mongolia on Tuesday expanded their strategic partnership and announced a slew of initiatives across sectors including defence, energy and digital infrastructure to cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Welcoming Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh to India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the visit held special significance as it marked 70 years of diplomatic relations and a decade of strategic partnership between the two nations. New projects aimed at enhancing ...Read More >
NEW DELHI, Oct 17: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh today launched the curtain raiser for the India International Science Festival (IISF) 2025, describing it as a "celebration of science" that complements the country's growing spirit of scientific inquiry and innovation. Addressing the gathering, Dr. Jitendra Singh said the festival will serve as a platform to showcase India's scientific achievemen ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 5 (ANI): Russia has reaffirmed its long-standing energy partnership with India, with President Vladimir Putin declaring that Moscow will remain a steady, uninterrupted supplier for the country's fast-growing economy. While adressing the joint press address with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said the two countries are seeing "successful partnership in energy," adding that "Russia is a reliable supply of oil, gas, coal and everything that is required for the development of India's energy. We are ready to continue uninterrupted shipments of fuel for the fast-growin ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], May 20 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday condoled the passing of Dr. Jayant Narlikar, a luminary in the field of astrophysics and said that the latter's writings have also gone a long way in making science accessible to common citizens. "The passing of Dr. Jayant Narlikar is a monumental loss to the scientific community. He was a luminary, especially in the field of astrophysics. His pioneering works, especially key theoretical frameworks, will be valued by generations of researchers," PM Modi posted on X. "He made a mark as an institution builder, grooming ce ...Read More >