Why Was India's Three-Stage Nuclear Programme Necessary? What Was Its Background?🔗

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Need for the Programme:

• Energy Security: In the 1950s, India's energy demands were skyrocketing, and reliance on fossil fuels like coal and oil was a growing concern. Nuclear power offered a clean, sustainable alternative.

• Limited Uranium Reserves: India has scant uranium—only about 1-2% of global reserves—crucial for conventional nuclear energy.

• Abundant Thorium Reserves: With roughly 25% of the world's thorium, India saw a golden opportunity. Thorium isn't directly fissile but can be converted into uranium-233 (U-233), a usable nuclear fuel.

Background:

• Visionary: Dr. Homi J. Bhabha, dubbed the "father of India's nuclear programme," sketched this plan in the 1950s.

• Goal: Leverage India's thorium wealth for long-term energy independence, reducing dependence on imported uranium or fossil fuels.

• Foundation: The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) was set up in 1954 to drive this vision forward, amid a post-independence push for self-reliance.

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Describe the Three Stages of India's Nuclear Programme in Detail. What Types of Reactors, Fuel, and Coolants Are Used in Each Stage?🔗

Stage 1: Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs)

• Purpose: Generate electricity and produce plutonium-239 (Pu-239) as fuel for Stage 2.

• Reactor Type: PHWR.

• Fuel: Natural uranium (0.7% U-235, rest U-238)—no enrichment needed.

• Moderator and Coolant: Heavy water (D₂O, deuterium oxide)—slows neutrons for fission and cools the reactor.

• Byproduct: Pu-239, formed when U-238 absorbs neutrons.

• Status: 18 PHWRs are operational in India today.

Stage 2: Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs)

• Purpose: Use Pu-239 from Stage 1 to "breed" more fissile material (Pu-239 or U-233) than it consumes, amplifying fuel supply.

• Reactor Type: FBR.

• Fuel: Mixed oxide (MOX)—Pu-239 blended with U-238.

• Moderator: None—fast neutrons drive the reaction.

• Coolant: Liquid sodium—handles high heat and doesn't slow neutrons.

• Byproduct: More Pu-239, plus U-233 when thorium-232 is introduced.

• Status: A Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, is nearing completion.

Stage 3: Thorium-Based Reactors

• Purpose: Tap India's thorium reserves for sustainable, long-term energy.

• Reactor Type: Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) and other thorium designs.

• Fuel: Thorium-232 (Th-232) mixed with U-233. (Th-232 isn't fissile but converts to U-233 after neutron absorption.)

• Moderator: Heavy water (in AHWR).

• Coolant: Heavy or light water, depending on design.

• Status: AHWR development is ongoing, still in R&D phase.

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What Is the Current Status of India's Three-Stage Nuclear Programme?🔗

• Stage 1: India runs 24 reactors (mostly PHWRs) with a total capacity of 8,180 MW.

• Stage 2: The Kalpakkam PFBR (500 MW) is almost ready, a big step toward breeding tech.

• Stage 3: Thorium-based reactors like AHWR are in the research and design phase—no operational units yet.

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What Are the Future Plans for India's Three-Stage Nuclear Programme?🔗

• 2032 Goal: Scale nuclear capacity to 63 GW, blending PHWRs with imported Light Water Reactors (LWRs).

• 2047 Vision: Hit 100 GW, leaning heavily into thorium and FBR tech.

• Expansion: Ramp up FBR deployments to multiply fissile material.

• Thorium Push: Finalize and roll out thorium-based reactors like AHWR.

• Funding: The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) plans joint ventures with public sector units to bankroll this growth.

This roadmap aims to make India a nuclear powerhouse, fueled by its own thorium bounty.

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