India nuclear power capacity expansion

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) recently reached a milestone of generating over 1,000 billion units of cumulative electricity since the beginning of commercial operations. This achievement is noted for its environmental impact, having avoided more than 860 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.

To support India’s long-term objective of reaching 100 gigawatts of nuclear power capacity by 2047, NPCIL is seeking greater financial autonomy. A parliamentary standing committee has recommended granting the state-owned enterprise more board-level independence to address policy bottlenecks, such as repetitive design clearances and multi-stage reviews, which contribute to project delays and rising costs.

Proposed reforms include empowering the NPCIL Board with increased financial sanctioning power, restoring tax waivers for large-scale projects, and classifying nuclear power under the national green taxonomy. The committee also highlighted the need for improved land acquisition processes, better nuclear liability insurance, and stronger frameworks for community welfare.