SHANTI Act 2025 Opens Nuclear Sector; India's 100 GWe by 2047 Mission to Use Thorium via PHWRs & FBRs

Anil Kakodkar Advocates Early Thorium Shift in PHWR Fleet for India’s 100 GWe Nuclear Mission by 2047

India's top nuclear scientist Anil Kakodkar urges early introduction of thorium-based fuel in India's indigenous PHWR fleet to accelerate utilisation of the world's largest thorium reserves. This strategic shift, using HALEU-thorium fuel without major design changes, aims to reduce uranium import dependency and achieve the 100 GWe nuclear mission by 2047.

Anil Kakodkar Advocates Thorium Fuel in PHWRs to Accelerate India's Nuclear Self-Reliance

Top nuclear scientist Anil Kakodkar proposes introducing thorium fuel in India's indigenous PHWR fleet to expedite utilisation of abundant thorium reserves and achieve nuclear fuel self-reliance, addressing growing energy demands and global uranium supply constraints.

SHANTI Act Draft Rules Released: India Opens Nuclear Sector to Private Firms, Targets 100 GW by 2047

India has released draft rules for the SHANTI Act, opening the civil nuclear sector to private companies for the first time. The U.S. nuclear industry is preparing submissions by September 4. This is a major step towards India's target of 100 GW nuclear power by 2047 and development of indigenous Small Modular Reactors.

Parliamentary Panel Recommends MDO Entry in Uranium Mining; India's 3-Stage Nuclear Plan to Thorium

The Parliamentary Committee on Atomic Energy has recommended allowing Mine Developer-cum-Operator (MDO) participation in uranium mining under DAE oversight to meet India's growing fuel demand for indigenous PHWRs. India currently imports uranium from Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Canada, and aims to expand nuclear capacity from 8.7 GWe to 100 GWe by 2047. The three-stage nuclear program aims to transition from uranium to thorium for long-term energy self-sufficiency.

ISRO Clarifies Pvt Sector Role: Targets $44B Space Economy, Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035, Moon Mission by 2040

ISRO has addressed employee concerns, stating that private sector participation in space is not a threat but an expansion of the ecosystem. The agency will focus on advanced missions like Bharatiya Antariksh Station (2035) and crewed Moon mission (2040), while routine production shifts to industry. India aims to grow its space economy from $8.4B to $44B by 2033.

India Targets 100 GW Nuclear Capacity by 2047, 5 New Reactors This Decade for AI & Chip Demand

PM Modi announced a target of 100 GW nuclear power by 2047 and 5 new reactors this decade, driven by soaring electricity demand from AI, semiconductors, and data centres. The SHANTI Act and draft rules now enable private participation, with a focus on small modular reactors (SMRs) for faster deployment and grid flexibility.

India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 with $13.5B Outlay; 12 Chip Projects Approved at Semicon India 2026

PM Modi inaugurated Semicon India 2026, pitching India as a trusted chip manufacturing hub. He announced the expansion of India Semiconductor Mission (ISM 2.0) with an increased outlay of $13.5 billion, and revealed that 12 chip-making projects have been approved. Applied Materials also committed $5 billion under Vision 2035 to integrate India into the global semiconductor value chain. This is crucial for India's goal of self-reliance and reducing dependence on global supply chains.

India's R&D Spending, Patents Surge but Systemic Barriers Hinder Science Superpower Status: E-book

A Hindu e-book analyzes India's scientific trajectory, noting increased R&D spending and patent filings but flagging critical gaps: poor lab-to-market translation, bureaucratic hurdles, brain drain, and rising pseudoscience. For exams, this is a rich source of 'Challenges to India's Innovation Ecosystem' for GS3.