Nuclear Power Plant in Banswara | 20 Sep 2025

Why in News?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for the Mahi-Banswara Nuclear Power Plant in Rajasthan on 25th September 2025, boosting the state's energy sector.

• The Prime Minister’s visit will also see the inauguration of several other projects worth over Rs 1.21 lakh crore.

Key Points

• About: The proposed nuclear power plant, set to be built on a 1,366-acre site, will have an installed capacity of 2,800 MW, with an expected completion by 2036. 
  • The project, valued at around Rs 50,000 crore, will feature four indigenous 700 MWe pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWRs) and is part of India’s broader efforts to expand nuclear power capacity.
• Current Status: India currently operates 15 PHWRs of 220 MWe, 2 PHWRs of 540 MWe, and a 700 MWe reactor at Rawatbhata, Rajasthan. 
  • PHWRs are a type of nuclear reactor that uses heavy water (deuterium oxide, D₂O) as both a coolant and moderator, while natural or slightly enriched uranium serves as fuel. 
• Regulator: The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) is India's national regulatory authority responsible for ensuring the safe use of nuclear energy and radiation technologies in the country. 
  • Established in 1983 under the Atomic Energy Act,1962, AERB functions as an independent body under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). 
• Total Capacity: India’s nuclear power capacity is currently 8.18 GW (2024), with targets set at 22.48 GW by 2031–32 and 100 GW by 2047.