India’s nuclear ambitions are taking center stage as the country faces the twin challenges of climate change and surging energy demand. With the world watching, India is now at a pivotal juncture in its energy transition, striving to balance the urgent need for clean power with the realities of technological, institutional, and public trust hurdles. The recent successful test-firing of the Agni-5 nuclear-capable missile on August 20, 2025, and new milestones in nuclear infrastructure underscore the country’s push to redefine its nuclear landscape.
According to The Economic Times, India’s defense establishment achieved a significant feat by successfully launching the Agni-5 intermediate-range ballistic missile from the Integrated Test Range in Odisha. The test, which validated all operational and technical parameters, is seen by analysts as both a demonstration of strategic capability and a signal of technological confidence. Yet, behind such headline-grabbing achievements, India’s broader nuclear mission is grappling with a different set of challenges—how to generate enough clean, reliable electricity for its fast-growing population, and how to do so safely and sustainably.
As reported by The Indian Express, India’s nuclear installed capacity now stands at 8,180 MW, distributed across 24 nuclear reactors. This represents a more than 70 percent increase from the 4,780 MW recorded in 2013-14, a testament to steady progress over the past decade. However, even with this growth, nuclear power still contributes only a modest share to the nation’s overall energy mix. Annual electricity generation from nuclear plants has reached 47,971 million units, but this output remains insufficient given the country’s burgeoning population and relentless appetite for energy.
Recognizing these limitations, the Indian government has set out an ambitious roadmap: triple the current nuclear power capacity by 2032, and ultimately reach 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047 under the Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat. Achieving this target, officials say, will require a fundamental shift in the way India approaches nuclear power—especially by opening the sector to private players. The government has expressed its intention to amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1962, which currently reserves all nuclear activities for the state and leaves no room for private investment.
The existing state-centric model, anchored by the Atomic Energy Act and administered by the Department of Atomic Energy and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL), has delivered on national security and strategic autonomy. The 2015 amendment to the Act did allow NPCIL to form joint ventures with other Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), helping to mobilize additional funding. Still, the framework excludes direct private sector participation, which many experts argue is now a major bottleneck. They point to the slow pace of capacity addition, lack of competition and innovation, and missed opportunities in emerging technologies as evidence that the closed model may be holding India back.
International experience offers a compelling counterpoint. In countries like the United States, United Kingdom, and France, private companies are at the forefront of nuclear innovation, pioneering advanced reactors and modular technologies that promise greater efficiency and safety. For India, liberalizing the sector could accelerate progress in promising fields such as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), thorium-based systems, and next-generation safety mechanisms. As The Indian Express notes, public-private collaboration is seen as crucial for the development of Bharat SMRs, a centerpiece of the nation’s nuclear mission.
There have already been some noteworthy steps in this direction. TEMA India, for instance, recently commissioned the country’s first private depleted heavy water upgradation facility—a milestone that reduces dependence on imports and signals the growing role of private enterprise in nuclear technology. The facility, unveiled by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and NPCIL, is being hailed as a sign of increasing self-reliance and a possible template for future partnerships.
But the path to a more open nuclear sector is fraught with challenges. Safety remains the foremost concern. India’s dense population means that any nuclear accident could have catastrophic consequences. While the country has maintained a relatively safe operational record, critics point to gaps in transparency, regulatory independence, and emergency preparedness. The specters of Chernobyl, Fukushima, and even the Bhopal Gas Tragedy continue to loom large in the public imagination, fueling deep-seated mistrust about the risks of nuclear technology and the assurances of authorities.
Liability is another major stumbling block. The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act of 2010 places responsibility on both operators and suppliers, aiming to ensure compensation for victims in the event of an accident. However, this provision has had the unintended effect of deterring private (and foreign) companies from investing in the sector, worried about the scale of potential liabilities. Until this is addressed, many in the industry believe private capital will remain on the sidelines.
Fuel supply security is also a pressing issue. Experts estimate that reaching the 100 GW target by 2047 would require some 18,000 tonnes of uranium—an amount that raises eyebrows given the global scarcity of the mineral. To address this, India is being urged to accelerate the adoption of closed fuel cycles and thorium-based technologies, which not only conserve uranium but also offer improved safety and waste management benefits. Thorium, in particular, is abundant in India and could become a game-changer if the necessary research and infrastructure are developed.
Despite these hurdles, the role of nuclear power in India’s energy future appears secure—at least on paper. As energy demand is projected to double by 2024, nuclear’s high-capacity factor and minimal emissions make it an attractive complement to solar and wind. But as The Indian Express cautions, the journey is anything but straightforward. Nuclear energy comes with high risks, long-term waste challenges, and requires robust regulatory oversight, public engagement, and specialized manpower.
Ultimately, India’s nuclear mission must walk a tightrope—ambitious enough to meet climate and energy goals, yet realistic about the institutional, technical, and social challenges ahead. Only by grounding its strategy in secure fuel supply, strong safety frameworks, transparent regulation, and genuine public dialogue can the country hope to make nuclear power a pillar of clean, inclusive development. If these conditions are met, the sector could well become a showcase for how ambition and realism can coexist on the path to a sustainable future.
