Presently, concept design of the lead unit of Bharat Small Modular Reactor 200 MWe has been completed, which includes sizing of the nuclear reactor alongwith the primary heat transport system. Detailed engineering design of nuclear and non-nuclear systems has been taken-up by the Department.
The erection and start-up of the demonstration unit of BSMR200 is expected to be completed in 6 years’ time after financial approval. Plant commissioning followed by regular operation will be feasible at the end of 7th year. Expected cost of the lead unit is ₹5,700 Crores.
BSMR is being developed by BARC and NPCIL as all the required expertise is available in house for deployment of lead unit of BSMR. The Department will avail services of developed indigenous private nuclear vendors, who will deliver various equipment and components of BSMR 200 through competitive bidding. The construction, erection and commissioning works will be entrusted with pre-qualified EPC vendors.
BSMR is based on the globally proven pressurized water reactor technology. It has been provided with passive safety features as well as several engineered safety systems to ensure nuclear safety during off normal conditions. In addition to this Nuclear safety of BSMR-based power plant will be subjected to comprehensive regulatory licensing process in vogue. Design standardization will be taken-up in the follow-on units to ensure cost-effectiveness and optimization of project timelines. BSMR will be largely indigenous, facilitating its sustainability and mass deployment. Use of imported uranium (slightly enriched) will be an option to be exercised, if required.
This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Space and Department of Atomic Energy, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
The share of nuclear power in the country’s energy basket is proposed to be increased by augmenting the installed nuclear power capacity.
A large nuclear power expansion programme of 13,600 MW is under implementation which is expected to increase the nuclear power capacity to 22,480 MW by 2031-32. Further, the Government has announced an ambitious Nuclear Energy mission with a target of reaching a nuclear power capacity of 100 GW by 2047.
The details are given in the annexure.
Annexure
State
Location
Unit
Capacity
(MW)
Maharashtra
Tarapur
TAPS-1
160
TAPS-2
160
TAPS-3
540
TAPS-4
540
Rajasthan
Rawatbhata
RAPS-1
100
RAPS-2
200
RAPS-3
220
RAPS-4
220
RAPS-5
220
RAPS-6
220
RAPS-7
700
TamilNadu
Kalpakkam
MAPS-1
220
MAPS-2
220
Kudankulam
KKNPP-1
1000
KKNPP-2
1000
Uttar Pradesh
Narora
NAPS-1
220
NAPS-2
220
Gujarat
Kakrapar
KAPS-1
220
KAPS-2
220
KAPS-3
700
KAPS-4
700
Karnataka
Kaiga
KGS-1
220
KGS-2
220
KGS-3
220
KGS-4
220
This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Space and Department of Atomic Energy, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Presently, there are 25 operational nuclear power plants in the country with a total capacity of 8880 MW. The details of operational nuclear power plants in the country are given in Annexure.
India is pursuing a three-stage nuclear power programme, for optimum utilization of its limited uranium resources and exploit vast thorium resources for long term energy security, by following nearly closed nuclear fuel cycle wherein the spent fuel from reactors is treated as resource material and not waste. India has developed expertise in backend fuel cycle of pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWRs).
The Programme of Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD&ER) is linked to the front end of nuclear fuel cycle, wherein exploration is carried out to identify, evaluate and augment atomic mineral resources to cater the need of Nuclear Power Programme of India. As on date, AMD&ER has established 4,28,300 tonnes in-situ U-oxide resource in 47 uranium deposits located in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra. The state-wise details of uranium resources are given in Table 1.
Besides,Directoratehasestimated13.15million tonnes (Mt) in-situmonazite (a mineral containing thorium, uranium and Rare Earth Elements) resource occurring in the coastal beach and teri/red sands in parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat and in the inland alluvium in parts of Jharkhand, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. Monazite in beach placer
sands contain about 9-10% thorium oxide. The estimated in-situ monazite resource (13.15Mt) contains approximately 1.04Mt thorium metal (Th) or approximately 1.18Mt thorium oxide (ThO2). The state-wise details of these resources are given in Table 2.
Uranium fuel requirement for the reactors which are under domestic safeguards is adequately met by Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), a Public Sector Enterprise under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). Time to time, projects which include capacity expansion of some of existing units as well as for establishing new projects in various parts of the country, are planned for maintaining sustained supply from UCIL.
Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC) with its initial establishment in Hyderabad has further augmented its own production facilities for fuel and structural fabrication at Hyderabad and further establishednewfacilitiesthroughGreenfieldProjectsat“ZirconiumComplex”, Pazhayakayal for Zirconium sponge production and “NFC-Kota” for Fuel Production. The project at Zirconium Complex, Pazhayakayal is completed in 2009 and is under operation since then.
NFC-Kota project is scheduled for completion by March 2026 and has currently achieved more than 90% physical progress with commissioning of major equipment in advanced stage.
Currently, the spent fuel from PHWRs is reprocessed to extract fissile material for use as fuel for next stage nuclear powerplants. However, a small volume of radioactive liquid wastes containing minor actinides and fission products is generated during reprocessing. The high level radioactive liquid waste, generated from reprocessing of spent fuel, is subjected to a process called vitrification, wherein it is converted to glass. This vitrified solid product is subjected to natural cooling in solid storage surveillance facility. This policy is at par with international practices following the guidelines of International Atomic Energy Agency.
For efficient management of high-level radioactive waste, BARC has developed and demonstrated partition technology for separation of long-lived actinides to facilitate increase in specific loading of waste in the vitrified solid and thereby facilitating substantial volume reduction of vitrified waste. Moreover, this partition technology also helps in recovery of useful radio- isotopes such as Caesium-137, Strontium-90, Ruthenium-106 from the liquid wastes for various societal applications.
Capacity enhancement for PHWR fuel reprocessing and waste management is under progress by construction of large capacity Integrated Nuclear Recycling Plant (INRP) for deploying the partition technology.
This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Space and Department of Atomic Energy, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Union Minister of State Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel to inaugurate One Day Program under “Hamari Parampara Hamari Virasat” in New Delhi tomorrow Over 560 Tribal Representatives from Jharkhand to Participate in the Event Honoring Bhagwan Birsa Munda’s Legacy
Posted On: 03 APR 2025 6:27PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj in collaboration with the Department of Panchayati Raj, Government of Jharkhand, is organizing a day-long national-level program under the initiative “Hamari Parampara Hamari Virasat” on 4th April 2025 at Rang Bhawan Auditorium, Akashvani Bhawan Complex, New Delhi. The event, dedicated to the 150th Birth Anniversary Year of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, celebrating and honoring tribal heritage at the national level, will be inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel. Shri Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj along with other senior officials of MoPR and Department of Panchayati Raj, Government of Jharkhand will be present on the occasion.
Over 560 tribal representatives from Jharkhand including prominent tribal leaders and community representatives of tribal groups will actively participate in the event, sharing insights on grassroot governance, traditional knowledge systems, and community-driven heritage conservation. The program will feature vibrant cultural performances, including traditional Santhali dance and Munda tribal storytelling, along with discussions on the role of Gram Sabhas in heritage conservation, government initiatives for indigenous traditions and insights from tribal leaders on grassroot governance and cultural preservation. The “Hamari Parampara Hamari Virasat” initiative aims to integrate tribal heritage into the nation’s cultural and governance framework. Envisioned and supported by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, this campaign was launched by the Department of Panchayati Raj, Government of Jharkhand on 26th January 2025 and has already seen 2,800 villages pledge their dedication to preserving traditional self-governance and cultural legacy.The objective of “Hamari Parampara Hamari Virasat” is to preserve, enhance and pass onto future generations the cultural heritage, folk songs, festivals, and worship practices integral to the traditional governance systems of various Scheduled Tribe communities in Scheduled Areas. This program aims to document the vibrant history and cultural practices of 20,300 villages across Jharkhand and the initiative is closely aligned with the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA Act). The Sarhul Mahotsav, celebrated on 1st April 2025 has set the stage for this initiative, with tribal representatives from Jharkhand participating in cultural and governance dialogues. This program aims to further amplify these discussions by integrating heritage conservation with participatory governance.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met the Prime Minister of Thailand, H.E. Paetongtarn Shinawatra today in Bangkok on his Official Visit to Thailand. On arrival at the Government House, Prime Minister was received by Prime Minister Shinawatra and accorded a ceremonial welcome. This was their second meeting. Earlier, the two leaders had met on the sidelines of ASEAN related Summit in Vientiane in October 2024.
The two leaders reviewed the entire range of bilateral cooperation between India and Thailand. They discussed ways to further strengthen political exchanges, defence & security partnership, strategic engagement, trade & investment and people-to-people ties. While doing so, they underlined the need to enhance connectivity, health, science & technology, start-up, innovation, digital, education, culture and tourism collaborations. They also discussed ways to deepen cooperation for countering transnational organised crimes including human trafficking, narcotics trafficking, and cyber scams. The two Prime Ministers exchanged views on global issues and discussed ways of forging closer cooperation in sub-regional, regional and multilateral fora, including BIMSTEC, ASEAN and Mekong Ganga Cooperation.
The two leaders witnessed exchange of the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of India-Thailand Strategic Partnership. They also witnessed exchange of MoUs in the fields of : handlooms and handicraft; digital technologies; Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs); and maritime heritage. Both leaders also welcomed the establishment of an India-Thailand Consular Dialogue, which will further facilitate people-to-people contacts between the two countries. The List of Outcomes may be seen here.
As a gesture of goodwill, the Thai government released a special postage stamp depicting 18th century Ramayana mural paintings to mark Prime Minister’s visit. Underlining the close cultural and religious connections between the two countries, Prime Minister was presented a special edition of Buddhist holy scriptures TI-PITAKA in Pali by Prime Minister Shinawatra. As a gesture to further deepen the close civilizational ties between India and Thailand, Prime Minister offered sending Lord Buddha’s Relics excavated from Gujarat to Thailand, for people to pay their respect. Last year, the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha and two of his disciples had travelled from India to Thailand, and over 4 million people had paid their respects.
India and Thailand are maritime neighbours with shared civilizational bonds underpinned by cultural, linguistic and religious ties, including those of Ramayana and Buddhism. India’s relations with Thailand are an integral pillar of our ‘Act East’ Policy, Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN, Vision MAHASAGAR and our vision of the Indo-Pacific. Sustained interactions between the two countries have led to a robust and multifaceted relationship based on age-old ties and shared interests.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) convened a meeting with Gorkha representatives in New Delhi to address issues concerning the Gorkha community today. The meeting was chaired by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai. During the meeting, the Gorkha delegation led by Darjeeling MP Shri Raju Bista highlighted various issues related to Gorkhas and the region and urged for early resolution of the problems.
The Minister of State for Home Affairs listened to the representatives attentively and assured them that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the all-round development and security of the region are among the priorities of the Government of India. He further assured that the Central Government would resolve the issues of Gorkhas, within the constitutional framework, in coordination with the Government of West Bengal.
During the meeting, various matters were discussed in detail and it was made clear by the government that the Central Government is working with utmost sensitivity to resolve the issues related to Darjeeling, Terai and Dooars.
The meeting was attended by Union Home Secretary Shri Govind Mohan, Registrar General of India Shri Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs Shri Roumuan Paite and other senior officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs. From the Gorkha side, the delegation included Darjeeling MLA Shri Neeraj Zimba, Kalchini MLA Shri Bishal Lama, GNLF Chief Shri Man Ghising, GJM Chief Bimal Gurung, CPRM President Shri J.B. Rai, GoRaNiMo Chief Shri Dawa Pakhrin, SuMuMo Chief Shri Vikas Rai, Dr. Kalyan Dewan, GJM General Secretary Shri Roshan Giri and GNLF General Secretary Shri Nar Bahadur Chhetri.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat, today (April 3) met with the Director-General of the Customs Administration of the Netherlands, Mrs Nanette van Schelven, in the presence of the Consul-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Hong Kong, Mr Maurits ter Kuile, in the Customs Headquarters Building. The meeting aimed to forge closer ties and strengthen collaboration in customs affairs between the two sides.
During the meeting, both sides reviewed the economic and trade relations between the Netherlands and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, as well as the on-going collaborative efforts between the two Customs administrations on customs administrative assistance and enforcement co-operation. They also discussed and exchanged views on trade facilitation and other issues of mutual concern.
Mr Chan welcomed the visit by Mrs van Schelven and Mr ter Kuile, noting that both Hong Kong and the Netherlands are key players in international trade. He emphasised that maintaining close collaboration between the two sides on customs affairs is crucial for fostering the robust development of international trade and creating more business opportunities for both economies.
​The Dutch Customs delegation will also visit the customs facilities at the Hong Kong International Airport tomorrow (April 4) to better understand the clearance operation of Hong Kong Customs for air cargoes and air passengers.
Raksha Mantri exhorts AMC to continue adopting latest technologies to provide quality health services to soldiers “Need to develop tech for both defence & civilian sectors, Civil-military convergence is crucial for overall development”
INHS Asvini, Mumbai bags RM Trophy for best hospital in AFMS for 2024
Posted On: 03 APR 2025 5:58PM by PIB Delhi
“The medical sector is going through a phase of technological transformation across the globe, and the Army Medical Corps (AMC) must continue adopting latest advancements to provide quality health services to our soldiers,” said Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh while addressing the 261stRaising Day celebrations of AMC at Army Hospital (Research & Referral), Delhi Cantt. on April 03, 2025.
While Raksha Mantri acknowledged AMC’s efforts of adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) and carrying out research in cutting-edge tech, he stressed on the need to stay abreast with evolving practices to achieve new breakthroughs in the field. He pitched for encouraging simulator-based training, wherein expertise in medical procedure is achieved through machine-based learning. He batted for additional research and training centres for the personnel to achieve this proficiency.
Shri Rajnath Singh highlighted the need to develop dual-use technologies, which can prove to be beneficial to both defence and civilian sectors. Civil-military convergence in the field of defence technology is crucial for the overall development, he said, while commending AMC for working with academia such as ICMR, IITs & AIIMS and medical organisations of other countries. He also urged AMC to explore the possibility of training medical professionals of other developing and under-developed countries to increase India’s stature in the field of military diplomacy.
Raksha Mantri appreciated the remarkable contribution of AMC in reforming the health sector – from infrastructure to services and policy making to implementation. He stated that AMC has strengthened the combat medical readiness of the Armed Forces by introducing Advanced Mobile Surgical Units and Rapid Response Medical teams. Indigenous Trauma Management System and AI-powered medical triage systems have improved emergency response time & patient care, he added.
Shri Rajnath Singh pointed out that the services of AMC are not limited to the serving soldiers, and they continuously strive for the well-being of the ex-servicemen and their families.
Raksha Mantri made special mention of Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, the incumbent and first female Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), describing her as a shining example of the growing Nari Shakti in the military. “Under her leadership, not only are our doctors carrying out exceptional work, the participation of women has also increased,” he said.
On the occasion, Shri Rajnath Singh presented the Raksha Mantri Trophy in recognition of the outstanding performance in delivery of healthcare to Armed Forces personnel. The trophy for the best hospital in AFMS for 2024 was awarded to INHS Asvini, Mumbai, while the second-best hospital trophy was given to Command Hospital, Western Command, Chandimandir, Haryana. These awards stand as testimony to the AMC’s unwavering pursuit of excellence and patient care.
The event was attended by senior dignitaries, including Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, DGAFMS Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin and other civil and military officials.
1. Joint Declaration on the Establishment of India-Thailand Strategic Partnership
2. MoU between the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of the Government of the Republic of India on Cooperation in the field of Digital Technologies
3. MoU between Sagarmala Division, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of the Republic of India and Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture, Kingdom of Thailand for development of National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat
4. MoU between National Small Industries Corporation Ltd. (NSIC), the Republic of India and Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP), the Kingdom of Thailand on cooperation in the field of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
5. MoU between the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand
6. MoU between North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Ltd. (NEHHDC) of the Republic of India and Creative Economy Agency (CEA) of the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand
With just 79 days to go for the International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2025, the Indian Yoga Association (IYA) has volunteered to play an active role in the celebrations of the International Day of Yoga . IYA representatives led by Secretary General Subodh Tiwari met senior officers from the Ministry of Ayush to discuss their plan of activities.
Representatives from 27 state chapters of the IYA actively participated in the discussions, showcasing their dedication and enthusiasm for the mega International Day of Yoga 2025.
The Ministry of Ayush thanked the IYA for their proactive approach and advance planning for IDY 2025. This collaboration is expected to enhance the celebration and promote the benefits of yoga on a global scale.
As announced by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, theme for IDY 2025 is “Yoga for One Earth One Health,”. The Prime Minister has also appealed to everyone to include Yoga into their routine and take pride in the country’s traditional wisdom for overall well being. IYA expressed its commitment to spread this theme through their number of institutions.
The IYA members stated that many of them have already chalked out specific plan to carry out activities related to the 10 unique signature events that have been identified to mark the 10th anniversary of International Day of Yoga 2025.
These 10 signature events are
Yoga Sangam– A synchronised Yoga demonstration at 1,00,000 locations, aiming for a world record.
Yoga Bandhan– Global partnerships with 10 countries to host Yoga sessions at iconic landmarks.
Yoga Parks– Development of 1,000 Yoga Parks for long-term community engagement.
Yoga Samavesh– Yoga Samavesh is an inclusive initiative promoting accessible yoga for persons with special needs, children, seniors, and marginalized groups. It features 10 key events, each focusing on a specific yoga protocol for conditions like diabetes, hypertension, asthma, mental health, and substance abuse. Over 1,000 participants will undergo a 10-day training conducted by partner organizations.
Yoga Prabhav– A decadal impact assessment on Yoga’s role in public health.
Yoga Connect– A Virtual Global Yoga Summit featuring renowned Yoga experts and healthcare professionals.
Harit Yoga– A sustainability-driven initiative combining Yoga with tree planting and clean-up drives.
Yoga Unplugged– An event to attract young people to Yoga
Yoga Maha Kumbh– A week-long festival across 10 locations, culminating in a central celebration led by the Hon’ble Prime Minister.
Samyoga– A 100-day initiative integrating Yoga with modern healthcare for holistic wellness.
IYA members will strive to ensure that their IDY 2025 activities will revolve around the above signature events.
Annexure
The International Day of Yoga (IDY) has become a global wellness movement, uniting millions across countries. Here’s a brief look at its key milestones:
IDY 2015 –New Delhi: The first IDY at Rajpath saw 35,985 participants, setting two Guinness World Records.
IDY 2016 –Chandigarh: 30,000+ participants gathered at Capitol Complex, including 150 Divyangjan performing Yoga Protocol for the first time. The Prime Minister emphasised Yoga’s role in treating ailments like diabetes.
IDY 2017 –Lucknow: 51,000 participants joined at Ramabai Ambedkar Maidan, with Yoga highlighted as affordable ‘health insurance’.
IDY 2018– Dehradun: 50,000+ participants at Forest Research Institute, with the theme “Yoga for Public Health”. ISRO launched BHUVAN-YOGA and Yoga Locator apps.
IDY 2019– Ranchi: Focused on ‘Yoga for Heart Care’, with eco-friendly Yoga accessories benefiting Khadi artisans.
IDY 2020– Virtual: Amid the pandemic, 12.06 crore people joined online. The “My Life, My Yoga” contest attracted entries from 130 countries.
IDY 2021– Virtual: Themed “Yoga for Wellness”, reaching 496.1 million people globally. Iconic celebrations occurred at Times Square, the Eiffel Tower, and Tokyo Skytree.
IDY 2022– Mysuru: 15,000 participants at Mysore Palace, with a ‘Guardian Ring’ global Yoga relay and VR-powered digital exhibition.
IDY 2023 –Jabalpur & UN HQ, New York: With 23.44 crore participants, this IDY set two Guinness World Records, including the most significant Yoga session (1.53 lakh participants in Surat). The ‘Ocean Ring of Yoga’ covered 35,000 km.
IDY 2024– Srinagar: Held at SKICC, Srinagar, with 7,000 participants braving the rain. The ‘Yoga for Space’ initiative saw ISRO scientists join in. A Guinness World Record was set in Uttar Pradesh, with 25.93 lakh people pledging to Yoga. 24.53 crore global participants marked this as a historic celebration.