Key Terms & Concepts — UPSC Mains
Small Modular Reactor
"Nuclear reactors under 300 MW capacity that are factory-built, modular, and deployable faster than conventional large reactors"
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are nuclear fission reactors with an electricity output of up to 300 MWe — significantly smaller than conventional nuclear plants (1,000–1,600 MWe). Their key feature is modularity: major components are factory-fabricated and assembled on-site, reducing construction time and capital requirements. SMRs can be deployed in smaller grids, industrial zones, or areas where large nuclear plants are not viable. India's SHANTI Act (2025) enables private sector participation in nuclear energy, making SMRs a central vehicle for India's 100 GW nuclear target by 2047.
Directly relevant to UPSC GS3 (Energy, Science & Technology) and GS2 (Governance — nuclear policy). India's Bharat Small Reactor (BSR) is a 220 MWe PHWR under NPCIL development. The SHANTI Act's private sector opening means Indian companies (and potentially foreign JVs) could deploy SMRs at industrial sites — a transformative shift from India's historically state-monopoly nuclear model.
- 1 SMR definition — under 300 MWe; modular design; factory-built components
- 2 Advantages — faster construction (3–5 years vs 10+ for large reactors), lower upfront capital, siting flexibility
- 3 India's Bharat Small Reactor (BSR) — 220 MWe PHWR; indigenously designed by BARC/NPCIL
- 4 Global SMR leaders — NuScale (USA), Rolls-Royce (UK), CNNC (China); 80+ designs in development worldwide
- 5 SHANTI Act 2025 — enables private Indian companies to own and operate SMRs (FDI remains prohibited)
- 6 India's 100 GW nuclear target by 2047 (CEA) will require both large reactors and SMRs
- 7 SMRs suit industrial heat applications, desalination, and remote grids — expanding nuclear beyond electricity
- 8 Nuclear Liability — CLNDA 2010 (now replaced by SHANTI) had high operator liability that discouraged private entry; SHANTI reforms this
Under the SHANTI Act, a private Indian company could set up a Bharat Small Reactor (220 MWe) at an industrial cluster in Rajasthan to provide baseload power — something impossible under the pre-2025 monopoly framework of NPCIL.
