K Ramanathan and Arunendra Kumar Tiwari

India’s quest for a low-carbon future has led to significant discussions on the role of nuclear energy in achieving energy security and reducing carbon emissions. The Union Budget has reinforced the government’s net zero vision by introducing a nuclear energy mission with a target of 100 GW by 2047, changes in the Atomic Energy Act and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act for greater private participation, and a ₹20,000-crore research and development (R&D) initiative for small modular reactors (SMRs). The upcoming World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2025 is set to shape discussions on the role of nuclear power in India’s energy transition.

Despite record-high additions in renewable energy (RE) capacity — particularly solar and wind — the grid emission factor, which had been on a declining trend from 0.779 tCO2/MWh in 2014-15 to 0.703 tCO2/MWh in 2020-21, has started to rise again. According to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) baseline database, it reached 0.729 tCO2/MWh in 2023-24, countering expectations that RE growth would drive substantial decarbonisation. This reversal is primarily due to India’s surging energy demand outpacing the expansion of renewables, necessitating continued dependence on coal-based power generation.

Nuclear power offers a stable baseload supply and contributes to grid stability while........

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