Daily Mains Question - GS 3 - 11th October 2025
- TPP
- Oct 11
- 4 min read
Welcome to your Daily UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice – GS Paper 3 (Science & Technology | Energy Security & Environment).
Today’s question examines the emerging role of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in India’s clean energy transition. As the nation strives toward net-zero emissions by 2070, SMRs—compact nuclear reactors with a capacity of 30–300 MWe per unit—are being viewed as a game-changing technology that combines energy reliability, safety, and decarbonisation potential.
With large nuclear projects facing delays and renewables constrained by intermittency, SMRs offer a bridge between base-load stability and sustainable power generation. Their modular design enables deployment near industrial clusters, supports green hydrogen production, and allows repurposing of decommissioned thermal sites.
For aspirants, this topic links directly to GS Paper 3 themes—energy technology, infrastructure, environment, and climate change—and offers scope to integrate policy analysis (Atomic Energy Act reforms, Bharat SMR initiative) and data-driven insights on India’s evolving energy mix.
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QUESTION
Examine the significance of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in India’s clean energy transition. How can these reactors complement renewable energy sources and aid in the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries?
Answer: Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are advanced nuclear fission reactors with a capacity typically ranging from 30 MWe to 300 MWe per unit, designed for modular construction, enhanced safety, and flexible deployment. As the global energy landscape shifts toward low-carbon and dispatchable sources, SMRs are emerging as a viable bridge technology between large nuclear plants and intermittent renewables. For India—aiming to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070—SMRs can play a pivotal role in ensuring energy security, grid stability, and industrial decarbonisation.
1. Significance of Small Modular Reactors
a. Compact, Scalable, and Flexible DesignSMRs can be built in factories and transported to sites, drastically reducing construction time and costs. Their modular nature allows incremental capacity addition, suitable for regions with smaller grid infrastructure.
b. Enhanced Safety FeaturesSMRs rely on passive cooling systems, lower fuel inventory, and underground containment, making them inherently safer compared to conventional large reactors.
c. Cost and Time EfficiencyUnlike large reactors that often face cost overruns, SMRs can be constructed faster (in 3–5 years) and allow economies of scale through standardised manufacturing.
d. Strategic Utility for Industrial DecarbonisationEnergy-intensive sectors such as steel, cement, aluminium, and fertilizers can use SMR-generated low-carbon electricity or process heat (up to 700°C) for green hydrogen production or thermal applications.
e. Energy Security and Import DiversificationSMRs reduce dependency on fossil fuel imports and ensure round-the-clock base load power, complementing solar and wind energy that suffer from intermittency.
2. Global Developments and India’s Position
Operational SMRs worldwide:
Akademik Lomonosov (Russia) – a floating SMR producing ~70 MWe.
HTR-PM (China) – a 200 MWe high-temperature gas-cooled demonstration reactor.
Several designs under development in the USA, Canada, and the UK (e.g., NuScale VOYGR, Rolls-Royce SMR).
India’s Initiatives:
The Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR) initiative under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) explores indigenous SMR designs.
India currently operates 220 MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) and is exploring Light Water Reactor (LWR) designs compatible with global standards.
Policy reforms are being discussed to amend the Atomic Energy Act (1962) and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (2010) to enable private participation and FDI in SMR development.
3. How SMRs Complement Renewable Energy in India
Additionally, repurposing decommissioned coal power sites for SMR deployment could reuse existing infrastructure—cooling systems, transmission lines, and workforce—reducing project costs and local disruption.
4. Strategic and Environmental Relevance for India
Clean Energy Transition: Nuclear energy currently contributes ~3% of India’s electricity. SMRs can scale this share while aligning with the National Hydrogen Mission and Paris Agreement goals.
Reduced Carbon Footprint: Each 300 MWe SMR can potentially offset 1.5–2 million tonnes of CO₂ annually compared to coal.
R&D and Export Potential: Developing indigenous SMR technology can enhance India’s role as a clean-tech exporter, strengthening technology diplomacy with Global South nations.
Small Modular Reactors represent the next frontier in nuclear innovation, offering India an opportunity to blend energy reliability, sustainability, and industrial competitiveness. By integrating SMRs into its renewable-heavy grid, India can overcome intermittency challenges, decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors, and move closer to its net-zero trajectory.
To realise this potential, India must prioritise regulatory reforms, international technology collaboration, and public-private partnerships in SMR deployment—ensuring nuclear energy remains a safe, affordable, and sustainable pillar of the nation’s clean energy architecture.
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