Question

Explain, how has India achieved the status of a nuclear power?

Answer 1

Hint: India has become one of the biggest users of Nuclear power in recent years. It is the second largest power source in the nation. As of now, India has twenty-two nuclear power reactors and they have a total capacity of 6780 MW. There are seven nuclear power plants distributed all over India and provides almost 5% of total energy intake. Seven more reactors are being made at the moment and this will increase the energy production up to 4300 MW.

Complete answer:
The Geological Survey of India recognised India as one of the big deposits of radioactive ores like Uranium and Throtanie which can last more than fifty years. But for some reason, no further developments occurred. During the late 1920 s and early 1930 s, Indian scientists started developing close connections with nuclear scientists from Europe and USA in order to acquire ideas and to be familiar with modern aspects of energy production. Daulat Singh Kothari, Meghnad Saha, Homi J. Bhabha and R. S. Krishnan became the pioneering research team in nuclear physics in Europe.
In 1939, a significant discovery happened in the field of nuclear fission by Meghnad Saha, Professor of Physics at the University of Calcutta. This encouraged him to start various experiments in nuclear physics. In 1940, the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust sanctioned funds for installing a cyclotron at the University of Calcutta for research. In 1944 Homi J. Bhabha requested funds to establish a research institute of fundamental physics, "with special reference to cosmic rays and nuclear physics. This ended up in the inauguration of " The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR)” in Mumbai in 1945 . After finding the energy potential of Uranium and establishing a plan to advance the research on nuclear power, plans were made to create a Uranium Unit under the Geological Survey of India, in order to focus on identifying and developing resources of uranium-bearing minerals.

First nuclear energy reactor was built in Trombay as per the guidelines of the Atomic Energy Commission on 15 March 1955 for research. In October 1955 , an agreement was signed by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and the Indian Department of Atomic Energy, under which Britain would supply uranium fuel elements for a swimming pool reactor to be designed by India. In August 1961 , discussion on two small power plants Tarapur, Maharashtra, Followed by seven more. The latest power plant is situated in Kudankulam, Tamil nadu.

Note:The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) is being developed by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) at 650 kilometres south of Chennai, in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, India. Two units are already installed and the construction of units three and four, which started in 2016 will be operational by 2023 . The power plant will have a total capacity of 6000 MW upon final commissioning of its six units.