Months after the country’s tightly regulated nuclear power sector was opened to private participation, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) plans to set up a new design vertical to provide technological support to private players and state governments seeking to deploy indigenous nuclear reactor technology.
The proposal for the new vertical is currently under process, as reported by The Indian Express. With the draft rules under the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act—enacted in December 2025—now released, the state-owned company aims to streamline its functions through this new vertical.
Purpose of the New Vertical
This vertical will serve as a gateway for entities seeking access to pressurised heavy-water reactor (PHWR) technology and technical expertise, including:
- Technology support
- Design reviews
- Quality assurance
The move comes amid growing interest in PHWRs among prospective public and private sector entrants as a preferred technology for the initial phase of India’s nuclear capacity expansion, given its established domestic supply chain and ecosystem.
Currently, NPCIL implements PHWR-based nuclear power projects through indigenous technology developed in India. The country has a nuclear power capacity of 8.7 gigawatt-electric (GWe), all of which is operated by NPCIL.
Roadmap for Nuclear Capacity Expansion
Earlier, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) identified PHWRs as a prime candidate for adoption by other public sector undertakings and private companies in its roadmap for achieving 100 GWe nuclear capacity by 2047.
““However, NPCIL having in its own pipeline expansion plans may find it difficult to hand hold all the new entrants interested in setting up PHWR plants. Therefore there is a compelling requirement for a dedicated and independent entity to provide technical support to other utilities,” the CEA stated.
