India’s Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is developing a series of modest modular reactors (SMRs), including the 220 Megawatt (Mw) Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200), at a total cost of ₹12,960 crore, according to a written reply to Parliament provided by Union Minister of State for Atomic Energy and Space, Jitendra Singh.
The BSMR-200 project, estimated to cost ₹5,960 crore, has received in-principle approval from the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), with the proposal cleared for submission to the Cabinet Committee for administrative and financial sanction. Alongside the BSMR-200, BARC is similarly developing two 55 Mw capacity SMR-55 units, costing ₹7,000 crore, and a High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (HTGCR) with a cost outlay of ₹320 crore.
The development of these SMRs falls under the Nuclear Energy Mission, announced in the Union Budget 2025–26, which allocated a total of ₹20,000 crore for SMR research, design, development, and deployment. Singh stated that the lead units of these reactors will be established at existing Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) sites.
Specifically, the Tarapur Atomic Power Station in Maharashtra has been identified as the location for the lead units of both the BSMR-200 and SMR-55. The BARC site in Vizag, Andhra Pradesh, will host the HTGCR. BARC is currently engaged in the design and construction of the HTGCR, intended for hydrogen generation.
The BSMR project is a collaborative effort between BARC and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). Singh indicated that the estimated construction time for the BSMR-200 is 60 to 72 months following the receipt of administrative and financial approval.
According to Singh, preliminary contact has been made with public sector undertakings, including Engineers India Limited and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), to secure detailed engineering support for the SMR projects. The minister also confirmed that in-principle approval has been received for both the SMR-55 project and the HTGCR project.