Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 20: India is set to expand its nuclear energy programme with plans to invite bids for setting up a 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200) within the next three to six months, marking a significant step in its clean energy transition.

Officials said foreign companies will be allowed to participate in the bidding process, but only through partnerships with domestic firms. The reactor design will be standardised, with the first unit expected to serve as a template for future installations. The approved cost for the pilot project is estimated at around Rs 30 crore per megawatt.

The BSMR-200 is being jointly developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. The total project cost is pegged at approximately Rs 5,960 crore and will be funded under the Nuclear Energy Mission. Construction, once approved, is expected to take between 60 and 72 months.

Inter-ministerial consultations are currently underway to finalise the bidding framework, with a final decision to be taken by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. Officials added that domestic firms capable of executing the project on an engineering, procurement and construction basis have already been identified.

The initiative follows the opening up of the nuclear sector to private investment after the enactment of the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act in December 2025.

The Union Budget has allocated Rs 20,000 crore to develop at least five indigenously designed small modular reactors by 2033 under the Nuclear Energy Mission. India has also set a long-term target of achieving 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047, while strengthening domestic manufacturing and technological capabilities.

In a recent milestone, India’s prototype fast breeder reactor achieved criticality earlier this month, marking further progress in the country’s nuclear energy programme.