GK · Chapter 13

Indian Nuclear Program

Governing Bodies · Research Centres · Reactors · Power Plants · Nuclear Tests

Overview
  • Father of Indian Nuclear Program: Dr. Homi J. Bhabha
1948Atomic Energy Commission
1954Dept. of Atomic Energy
1983AERB Formed
Governing Bodies
BodyEstablishedKey Details
Atomic Energy Commission10 August 1948First Chairman: Dr. Homi J. Bhabha
Department of Atomic Energy3 August 1954HQ: Mumbai; directly under the Prime Minister
Atomic Energy Regulatory Board15 November 1983Ensures safe and environmentally friendly use of atomic energy
⚡ QUICK RECALL Dr. Homi J. Bhabha wears two "first" hats: Father of the Indian Nuclear Program AND first Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (1948).
Major Atomic Research Centres
CentreEstablishedLocationObjective
Atomic Mineral Directorate (AMD)1949HyderabadR&D related to radiometric and geo-survey
Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL)1950MumbaiObtaining monazite commercially through processing
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)1954Trombay, MumbaiNuclear research and development; CIRUS Thermal Reactor built with Canada's cooperation
Uranium Corporation of India Ltd. (UCIL)1969Jadugoda, JharkhandMining and refining of uranium ore
Atomic Energy Education Society (AEES)1969MumbaiEducation up to 12th standard for DAE employees' children
Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR)1971Kalpakkam, Tamil NaduR&D on Fast Breeder Reactors
Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC)1977KolkataFundamental and applied nuclear science research
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL)1987MumbaiConstruction and operation of nuclear power plants
Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT)1984IndoreTechnology development in laser and cryogenics
Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership (GCNEP)2010Bahadurgarh, HaryanaSafe and clean nuclear energy expansion; reduces proliferation risk
⚠ EXAM TRAP The reactor built at BARC with Canadian cooperation is CIRUS (Canada-India Reactor, Utility Services), commonly mistyped as "CYRUS" — the two names are frequently confused in notes and low-quality sources.
Nuclear Reactors in India
ReactorEstablishedKey Details
Apsara Reactor1956First reactor in Asia
CIRUS Reactor10 July 1960Built with Canadian cooperation
Zerlina Reactor4 January 1961—
Purnima Reactor18 May 1972—
Purnima II Reactor16 May 1984—
Dhruva Reactor8 August 1985—
Purnima III Reactor9 November 1990—
Kamini Reactor29 October 1996India's & developing world's first Fast Breeder Neutron; world's first to use Uranium-233 fuel
Apsara-U Reactor10 September 2018Upgraded version of Apsara
⚡ QUICK RECALL Apsara (1956) = first reactor in ASIA. Kamini (1996) = world's first reactor using Uranium-233 fuel. Two different "firsts" — don't merge them.
Nuclear Power Plants — World Context
CategoryCountry / LocationYear
First in the WorldRussia (Obninsk)1954
Second in the WorldAmerica1958
First in IndiaTarapur, Maharashtra (with US cooperation)1969
Largest in IndiaKudankulam, Tamil Nadu2014
Nuclear Power Plants in India
PlantLocationEstablishedCapacity
TarapurMaharashtra19691400 MWe
RawatbhataRajasthan19731180 MWe
KalpakkamTamil Nadu1984440 MWe
NaroraUttar Pradesh1991440 MWe
KakraparGujarat1993440 MWe
KaigaKarnataka2000880 MWe
KudankulamTamil Nadu20142000 MWe
⚠ EXAM TRAP Tarapur is India's FIRST nuclear power plant (1969) by year, but Kudankulam is the LARGEST by capacity (2000 MWe, 2014) — don't confuse "first" with "largest."
India's Nuclear Tests
TestDateSiteCode NameCapacity
First Nuclear Test18 May 1974Pokhran, RajasthanSmiling Buddha12 Kilotonnes
Second Nuclear Test11 & 13 May 1998Pokhran, RajasthanOperation Shakti—
Atomic Bombings on Japan (World War II)
OrderDateCityBomb Name
First6 August 1945HiroshimaLittle Boy
Second9 August 1945NagasakiFat Man
⚡ QUICK RECALL Hiroshima → "Little Boy" (6 Aug); Nagasaki → "Fat Man" (9 Aug) — names and cities are often swapped in exams, so link them by date order.
Quick Reference Summary
Father of Indian Nuclear ProgramDr. Homi J. Bhabha
Atomic Energy CommissionEst. 10 August 1948
Department of Atomic EnergyEst. 3 August 1954; HQ: Mumbai
Atomic Energy Regulatory BoardFormed 15 November 1983
BARCTrombay, Mumbai; est. 1954; nuclear R&D
UCILJadugoda, Jharkhand; est. 1969; uranium mining
IGCARKalpakkam, Tamil Nadu; est. 1971; Fast Breeder Reactors
NPCILMumbai; est. 1987; nuclear power plants
GCNEPBahadurgarh, Haryana; est. 2010
First Reactor in AsiaApsara Reactor, 1956
Kamini ReactorFirst to use Uranium-233 fuel; first Fast Breeder Neutron (1996)
First Nuclear Plant in WorldRussia (Obninsk), 1954
First Nuclear Plant in IndiaTarapur, Maharashtra, 1969
Largest Nuclear Plant in IndiaKudankulam, Tamil Nadu (2000 MWe)
First Nuclear Test (India)18 May 1974; Pokhran; Smiling Buddha; 12 kt
Second Nuclear Test (India)11–13 May 1998; Pokhran; Operation Shakti
Hiroshima Bombing6 August 1945; Bomb: Little Boy
Nagasaki Bombing9 August 1945; Bomb: Fat Man