Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday announced a diversified energy plan focussed on small, modular nuclear reactors, rooftop solar plants, and the development of indigenous technology for Advanced Ultra Super Critical (AUSC) thermal power plants with much higher energy efficiency.
In her Budget speech, Sitharaman said nuclear energy is expected to form a significant part of the mix for Viksit Bharat or developed India. She added the government will partner with the private sector to set up Bharat Small Reactors, research, and development (R&D) of Bharat Small Modular Reactor, newer technologies for nuclear energy. “The R&D funding announced in the interim Budget will be made available for this sector.”