Opportunities in India’s Expanding Nuclear Programme

World Nuclear Association convened a high‑level member webinar exploring the rapidly evolving opportunities within India’s expanding nuclear programme. The session brought together senior representatives from government, utilities, developers, suppliers and advisors to examine how India plans to scale nuclear power from around 8 GW today to 100 GW by 2047, and what this means for international industry engagement. 

Moderated by Dr Sama Bilbao y León, Director General of World Nuclear Association, the discussion highlighted a clear shift in India’s nuclear landscape: from a historically state‑led programme to one increasingly open to private participation, international collaboration and large‑scale investment. The panellists included: 

• Ms Sujatha Uthiramadan Govindan, Vice President, Invest India 
• Mr Kapil Bansal, Partner – Energy Transition & Decarbonisation, EY‑Parthenon 
• Mr Juan Santopinto, Vice President and Global Nuclear Counsel, Flowserve 
• Mr Arnada Prasad Samal, Chief General Manager and CEO, NTPC Parmanu Urja Nigam Ltd 
• Mr Vivek Sharma, Business Head – Nuclear Power & Group Head – Energy Strategy, Adani 
• Mr Vijay Joshi, Vice President – Business Development (South Asia), Rosatom 

A scale challenge driven by growth and decarbonisation 

Setting the scene, panellists underscored the exceptional growth in India’s electricity demand, driven by industrialisation, urbanisation, electrification of transport, data centres and cooling needs. With peak demand continuing to rise rapidly, speakers emphasised that firm, low‑carbon baseload power is essential alongside renewables. 

Nuclear energy was repeatedly described not as optional, but as a structural necessity for India’s energy transition, providing reliability, system stability and long‑term energy security while supporting the country’s commitment to net zero by 2070. 

The SHANTI Bill: unlocking private and international investment 

A central focus of the webinar was the recently adopted SHANTI Bill (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear for Transforming India), described by panellists as a turning point for the sector. 

Speakers highlighted three areas of particular significance: 

• Reform of liability rules, aligning India more closely with international nuclear legal frameworks 
• Opening the door to private sector participation, alongside public utilities 
• Greater certainty on tariffs and investment structures, critical for enabling long‑term capital deployment 

The consensus view was that these reforms substantially reduce long‑standing barriers to foreign involvement and send a strong signal that India is actively seeking global partners to deliver its nuclear ambitions. 

Utility perspectives: moving towards fleet-scale deployment 

Two of India’s major power utilities outlined how they are preparing for expansion. Nuclear is increasingly being integrated into long‑term generation portfolios, with plans involving multiple technologies, multiple sites and multiple delivery models. 

A strong emphasis was placed on: 

• Fleet‑scale deployment rather than one‑off projects 
• Combining proven large reactors with emerging technologies, including SMRs, over time 
• Leveraging international experience while maintaining high safety and quality standards 

Speakers stressed that achieving the 2047 target will require parallel build programmes, faster execution, and deeper collaboration across the value chain. 

Supply chains, localisation and “Make in India” 

From a supplier and technology perspective, the discussion repeatedly returned to localisation as a defining feature of India’s nuclear opportunity. 

Panellists agreed that: 

• “Make in India” will be central to affordability and scalability 
• International companies will need credible localisation strategies, not just export models 
• India has the industrial base, engineering capability and workforce to become both a domestic supply hub and an export platform over time 

Examples were shared of how international suppliers are already partnering with Indian firms to navigate regulation, qualification, manufacturing and long‑term market entry. 

Invest India and future engagement 

Ms Uthiramadan Govindan from Invest India outlined how the agency is supporting nuclear market entry, facilitating partnerships, helping companies understand regulatory and commercial frameworks, and enabling connections across government, utilities and industry. The message was clear: India is not only open for nuclear business but also actively working to de‑risk entry for credible partners. 

Strong engagement and appetite for next steps 

The webinar attracted strong participation, with over 90 attendees and sustained engagement throughout the session. A member poll showed high interest in a potential future trade mission to India, and post‑event feedback highlighted demand for deeper follow‑up on: 

• Financing and tariff models 
• Supply chain and localisation requirements 
• Technology pathways, including SMRs and advanced reactors 
• Clearer roadmaps from utilities and policymakers 

Looking ahead 

As India accelerates towards one of the largest nuclear build programmes in the world, the message from the webinar was unambiguous: the opportunity is real, the direction of travel is clear, and now is the time for international industry to engage. 

Key takeaways