GS3 · 15 marks · 250 words

Give an account of the evolution of India's 3-Stage Nuclear Power Programme. What are the advantages and strategic imperatives of realising the thorium-based third stage?

Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2023–2025

EnergyIndigenisation and Defence Technology

Syllabus: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

How toppers approached it

From all 4 answers · about 260 words · 50% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • No separate opening3 of 4
  • A date or context1 of 4

Body

  • Points and prose3 of 4
  • Points1 of 4

Close

  • A way forward2 of 4
  • No separate close1 of 4
  • A summary1 of 4

The toppers’ answers

Pakshal SecretryAIR 8 · CSE 2025 · 182 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a recent event

Recently, PM Modi unveiled 2nd stage reactor at Kalpakkam, marking a turnaround point in India's 3 stage Nuclear program.

Body · points and prose

Diagram
[Timeline of Evolution] 1962: Formulation of 3 stage programme (HJ Bhabha) 1975: First Reactor - Apsara (BARC) 2000: R&D on 2nd phase 2024: Commissioning of 2nd stage

Evolution

  1. Conception → By HJ Bhabha in 1960s → of 3 staged programme

  2. 1st stage → Apsara Reactor of BARC.

  3. Expansion of 1st stage → Tarapur, Kundakulam

  4. Simultaneous R&D on 2nd stage

  5. Current stage

Diagram
1st stage = operational, 2nd stage = commissioned, 3rd stage = R&D began

3 staged plan

Diagram
1st: Uranium Based (PHWRs) → waste → 2nd: fast Breeder Reactors → waste → 3rd: Thorium Based Reactor

Advantages

  1. Utilising of Thorium Reserves of India
Diagram
Circle graph with 25% sector labelled 'India's Reserves' and the rest 'world'.

  1. Reduce import dependency on uranium

  2. Increase contribution of Nuclear from 8.2GW to 30GW

  3. Reduce Nuclear waste → Reprocess & Reuse the waste

Strategic Imperative

(5) Ensuring Energy security (energy Aatmanirbharta)

(6) Reducing crude oil import dependence

(7) Overcoming Technological Denial Regime eg Non-inclusion in NSG of India

(8) Nuclear soft-power → Transfer to other country

(9) Key to ensure Sustainable energy generation

Way forward

(1) Allowing private sector in Atomic Energy.

(2) Liberalise to allow FDI in sector

(3) Joint cooperation eg Russia - Kundakulam

(4) focus on SMRs → Buget 2025-26 focus

Close · a way forward

Continuous R&D and private sector research would be key to realise dream of 3 staged Nuclear program

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