New Delhi (ABC Live): India’s net-zero target for 2070 has moved from promise to practice. At the same time, the main challenge is no longer just renewable capacity addition. Instead, the real issue is how to decarbonise heavy industry.

Steel, cement, fertilisers, aluminium, refineries, and data centres all need round-the-clock power. However, solar and wind are variable by nature. Even when paired with batteries, they struggle to supply steady power at scale.

Therefore, nuclear energy is again being seen as industrial infrastructure, not just grid electricity.
Consequently, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) sit exactly at this junction of clean energy, industry, and energy security.

(Related reading: https://abclive.in/2025/12/11/explained-how-indias-smrs-clean-industry-trade/)

The Global Pivot Toward Modular Nuclear

Across the world, nuclear policy is changing.

Earlier, countries focused on large, custom-built reactors. Now, they are shifting toward factory-built, standardised, modular reactors.

Countries such as Canada, China, the United States, and Russia are therefore treating SMRs as future industrial energy platforms.

(Related reading: https://abclive.in/2025/12/13/india-smr-usa-vs-russia/)

India’s Strategic Bet: Nuclear as Industrial Infrastructure

India plans to use SMRs mainly for:

• Repurposing retiring coal plants
• Captive power for energy-intensive industries
• Off-grid and remote locations

In effect, SMRs are being framed as tools for industrial decarbonisation.
Thus, they are not just another way to add electricity to the grid.

Readiness Is About Irreversibility

Globally, SMR programmes become real only after five steps:

1. Licence to construct
2. Secured financing
3. Locked deployment site
4. Bankable tariff or offtake model
5. Serial manufacturing plan

Accordingly, this report checks India’s progress against these steps.

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India’s SMR Programme: Current Status

Design and development are led by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre under the Department of Atomic Energy.

Official source:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2223310&reg=3&lang=1

Hence, India has policy approval, but no SMR has yet reached the construction-authorised stage.

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Technology Readiness: Conservative but Credible

India’s SMRs are based on pressurised-water technology. Importantly, this draws from decades of domestic reactor experience.

On the positive side:

• Proven reactor physics
• Familiar safety approach
• Indigenous design control

On the other hand, India has chosen evolutionary designs rather than radical new concepts.

Global Snapshot

• Canada: Licensed to construct
• China: Under construction
• United States: Design certified, first project cancelled
• Russia: Floating SMR in operation

Therefore, India is technically credible, but behind on deployment maturity.

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Regulatory Readiness: The Main Bottleneck

India’s nuclear rules were built for large reactors. By contrast, SMRs need:

• Modular construction codes
• Factory certification systems
• New emergency planning logic

At present:

• India has design and programme approvals
• However, no public licence-to-construct equivalent exists

(Related reading: https://abclive.in/2025/12/19/india-new-nuclear-energy-act-2025/)

As a result, regulatory readiness remains partial.

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Site Readiness: Concept Without Lock-In

India proposes SMRs at:

• Retired coal plants
• Existing nuclear sites

Yet, no first-of-a-kind site has been officially announced.

By comparison:

• Canada: Darlington
• China: Changjiang
• Russia: Pevek

Consequently, India’s site readiness is still weak.

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Financing & Economics: The Weakest Link

Key unknowns remain:

• Capital cost per MW
• LCOE
• Tariff for captive users
• FOAK risk-sharing model

Indicative global capital costs (USD/MW):

Without doubt, without cost bands and tariff clarity, SMRs are not bankable in India.

Manufacturing & Supply Chain: Latent Strength

DAE states that most SMR equipment can be made by the Indian industry with BARC support.

Nevertheless, serial production only becomes viable after confirmed multi-unit orders.

Hence, India has latent readiness, not volume readiness.

Fuel Cycle & Waste Strategy: Global-Tier Capability

India plans:

• Slightly enriched uranium fuel
• Domestic reprocessing
• Vitrification and engineered storage

Notably, only a few countries control the full fuel cycle.
Therefore, this is one of India’s strongest advantages.

Safety Governance & Public Acceptance

India highlights smaller exclusion zones and improved safety. Still, acceptance will depend on:

• Site-specific emergency plans
• Local consultation
• Independent regulator credibility

Accordingly, India should follow Canada/US-style transparency.

Readiness Scorecard (0–5)

Overall, the composite score stands at 17 / 30.

Why ABC Live Is Publishing This Report Now

ABC Live is publishing this report now because:

1. The SHANTI Act has been enacted, enabling nuclear research and innovation.
2. Simultaneously, the Government has disclosed India’s SMR programme in Parliament and through PIB.

(Related reading: https://abclive.in/2026/01/31/questions-on-shanti-act-2025/)

Together, these steps mark a policy inflection point.
Therefore, scrutiny is essential before financing, sites, and licences are locked in.

What India Must Do in the Next 12–24 Months

1. First, sanction BSMR-200 financing
2. Next, publish the SMR licensing roadmap
3. Then, declare the FOAK site
4. Also, the release cost and tariff bands
5. Additionally, secure at least one industrial offtake deal
6. Finally, launch a serial manufacturing plan

Bottom Line

India’s SMR programme is strong in capability but weak in execution signals.

In short, India is ready to design SMRs.
However, India is not yet ready to deploy SMRs at scale.

If India converts intent into licensed, financed, site-locked projects, SMRs can become a key pillar of industrial decarbonisation.
Otherwise, they risk remaining well-designed concepts without a market.

Source: Statement placed before the Lok Sabha on 4 February 2026 by Dr Jitendra Singh.