India will need an estimated ₹19.3 trillion ($217 billion) in investment to meet its goal of installing 100 gigawatts of nuclear power capacity by 2047, according to a report released Tuesday by a panel under the power ministry. The report outlines a sweeping roadmap to expand the country’s nuclear energy base as part of its long-term strategy to secure cleaner and more reliable electricity.
The panel’s assessment assumes that India’s homegrown pressurized heavy-water reactors will remain the backbone of the nuclear program, contributing nearly 46 percent of the total targeted capacity. Large foreign reactors are projected to account for about 39 percent, with additional funds required to build local equipment manufacturing facilities. This massive financial and technological effort signals one of the country’s boldest steps toward diversifying its energy mix.
The report arrives amid the Modi government’s renewed push to reform laws and attract private investment into a sector that has seen years of stagnation. The government’s plans mirror a global shift toward nuclear power as nations seek to meet their decarbonization targets without compromising energy security. India’s nuclear ambitions, however, have long been hindered by legal and financial constraints that have discouraged participation from private and foreign companies.
A key obstacle has been a stringent liability law that exposes plant developers and equipment suppliers to potential lawsuits in the event of a nuclear accident. This has led to the shelving of several projects, including those involving global firms such as General Electric Co. and Electricité de France SA. Currently, India’s operational nuclear capacity stands at just 8.8 gigawatts — less than 2 percent of its total electricity generation — highlighting the scale of the challenge ahead.
To break the impasse, the power ministry panel has recommended amending the liability framework. Under the proposal, suppliers’ liability would be capped at the lower of three amounts: the contract value, the operator’s liability, or a value explicitly stated in the contract. The report also advocates allowing private companies to invest directly in uranium mining overseas, either independently or through joint ventures with state-owned enterprises.
If implemented, these measures could mark a turning point for India’s nuclear industry, paving the way for domestic and international collaboration on a scale not seen before. With energy demand expected to surge and climate pressures mounting, the country’s pursuit of a robust atomic program may define the next era of its power transition.
