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India's first prototype fast-breeder reactor (PFBR) in Tamil Nadu's Kalpakkam on Monday (April 6, 2026) came another step forward in its civil nuclear journey as it attained criticality. First criticality in a fast breeder reactor is the moment when the nuclear chain reaction becomes self-sustaining. A breeder reactor is a nuclear reactor that produces more fissile material than it consumes. In a 'fast' breeder reactor, the neutrons aren't slowed, allowing them to trigger specific fission reactions. Is India finally entering stage II of its nuclear programme? | Explained The PFBR is a machine that produces more nuclear fuel than it consumes. Its core-loading event is being hailed as a "milestone" because the operationalisation of the PFBR will mark the start of stage II of India's three-stage nuclear power programme. The PFBR in Kalpakkam is the first-of-its-kind nuclear reactor to use plutonium-based mixed oxide as fuel and liquid sodium as coolant. It will also utilise the spent fuel of Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors, which form the mainstay of nuclear power in India at present. In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said this is a proud moment for the country. Today, India takes a defining step in its civil nuclear journey, advancing the second stage of its nuclear programme," he said. "The indigenously designed and built Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam has attained criticality," he added. Mr. Modi said this advanced reactor, capable of producing more fuel than it consumes, reflects the depth of Indian scientific capability and the strength of the country's engineering enterprise. "It is a decisive step towards harnessing our vast thorium reserves in the third stage of the programme. A proud moment for India. Congratulations to our scientists and engineers," he said. The loading of fuel at the Kalpakkam PFBR had started in October last year. (With inputs from PTI)
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 >
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: 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 [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 >
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 >
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 >
NEW DELHI, March 2 (Xinhua) -- India and Canada on Monday signed a long-term deal worth 1.9 billion U.S. dollars for uranium supply aimed at expanding nuclear energy generation projects in India. The significant deal was inked in the presence of visiting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Carney was in New Delhi on a four-day official visit. The uranium supply deal would contribute towards India's vision for its nuclear power program under the federal government's ambitious "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India) initiative, and also achieve 100 GW of nucl ...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 >
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: Even as the Lok Sabha passed the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025 -- a bill that aims to end the decades-long state monopoly on nuclear power and enables the sector's privatization -- the Opposition Member of Parliaments (MPs) have not just staged a walkout from the lower house but also raised serious concerns about 'loopholes'. 'Nuclear bill or unclear bill?' "The SHANTI Bill is a milestone Mr. minister but for the wrong reasons....it is heavy on discretion and largely indifferent to public welfare. I am not sure ...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 >
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 [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], April 2 (ANI): India and Russia discussed strengthening ties across areas such as trade, energy and industrial cooperation during the meeting between PM Modi and Russia's Deputy PM Denis Manturov on Thursday, as per the Russian Embassy in India. Sharing the details of the meeting in a post on X, the Russian Embassy said that the leaders also discussed steps to implement agreements reached during the 23rd bilateral summit, which took place in New Delhi last year between PM Modi and President Putin. Also Read | Which Countries Are Coming Together for Efforts To Reopen Strait ...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 >
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 >
Sample of Earth Minerals. (Representative) Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. India is negotiating with companies to create long-term rare earth magnet stockpiles. The initiative aims to reduce dependence on China, which controls 90% of magnet processing globally. The government is considering fiscal incentives to boost domestic production of rare earth magnets. New Delhi: India is holding talks with companies to establish long-term stockpiles of rare earth magnets by offering fiscal incentives for domestic production, people familiar with the matter said. Building ...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 MWe PFBR being developed by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam (BHAVINI) at Kalpakkam. The reactor is e ...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 >
Guwahati, June 6 (UNI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while slamming Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for his 'surrender Modi' jibe, took his followers through a "reality check" as to which party and family surrendered India's interest and territory. "Rahul Gandhi has the audacity to mock the Prime Minister despite the massive success of OperationSindoor . Let's jog his memory as to which party and family has surrendered India's interest and territory, and backstabbed the people with their treachery," said the Assam Chief Minister on his X handle. "1947-48 - PoK Betrayal: It was Nehru who ...Read More >
Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Moscow's role as a steady energy supplier for India's growing economy. He highlighted expanding cooperation in nuclear power, trade routes like INSTC, and Russia's participation in 'Make in India'. 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 ...Read More >
The 15th Indo-French CEOs Forum on February 18 will bring top industry leaders from both countries together alongside French President Emmanuel Macron's India visit. French President Emmanuel Macron will visit India from February 17 to 19, 2026, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the trip, Macron will attend the AI Impact Summit. He will first meet Modi in Mumbai on Tuesday before travelling to New Delhi to take part in the India AI Impact Summit 2026. The two leaders are ...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 >