India’s Big Nuclear Push: US Tie-Up, Small Reactors And The Race For Round-The-Clock Power

India’s Big Nuclear Push: US Tie-Up, Small Reactors And The Race For Round-The-Clock Power Published By, Last Updated: May 21, 2026, 08:37 IST India and the US are intensifying cooperation in the nuclear energy sector, with New Delhi focusing on expanding nuclear power generation and building a manufacturing ecosystem. A representative photo for India's energy sector (Social Media) India’s push to deepen civil nuclear cooperation with the United States has gathered fresh momentum, with two broad objectives emerging at the centre of ongoing discussions – rapidly scaling up nuclear power generation to meet India’s growing base-load energy needs, and building a manufacturing ecosystem around small modular reactors (SMRs). The developments come amid a high-level visit by an American nuclear industry delegation to India and a series of meetings with Union ministers, state governments and private sector companies. According to multiple official statements and reports, India is positioning nuclear energy as a critical pillar of its long-term industrial and energy strategy, especially as electricity demand rises sharply because of expansion in sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, logistics and advanced manufacturing. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said nuclear power would be essential for “carbon-free and industrial-scale baseload power supply" and stressed that renewable energy sources alone would not be enough to sustain round-the-clock industrial growth. He noted that Maharashtra already hosts nearly 60 per cent of India’s data centre capacity and receives more than 40 per cent of the country’s foreign investment. “Maharashtra will lead the next phase of nuclear energy expansion in India," Fadnavis said, adding that the state had already signed agreements for projects with a capacity of 25,000 MW in the sector. He also said the state government was ready to support American firms with industrial land, infrastructure, skill development, research collaboration and incentives if they invested in nuclear projects in Maharashtra. The Indian Express, citing officials and executives involved in the discussions, reported that India conveyed two clear priorities to the visiting American delegation after recent changes to the country’s nuclear laws: increasing nuclear power generation to expand a reliable base-load electricity supply, and progressively entering the SMR manufacturing value chain. The report said India remains committed to its domestic pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR) programme while selectively exploring foreign collaboration, particularly in the SMR segment. The report further noted that while India has mastered PHWR technology, concerns remain over the high costs associated with imported light water reactors (LWRs), which dominate globally. As a result, there is growing policy emphasis on strengthening indigenous nuclear manufacturing capabilities while seeking foreign capital and expertise in emerging reactor technologies. SMALL MODULAR REACTORS EMERGE AS KEY FOCUS AREA A major component of the India-US nuclear discussions is centred around SMRs, which are increasingly viewed globally as a more commercially viable and flexible nuclear energy solution. Fadnavis said Maharashtra was eager to become an “early hub" for SMR technology and described the state as an ideal testing ground for next-generation nuclear energy systems. “SMR technology is compatible with the future needs of the industrial economy," he said. The Indian Express report said India is actively seeking foreign funding and expertise in the SMR space, with sovereign wealth funds from West Asia also showing preliminary interest in financing India’s nuclear expansion plans. The report added that SMRs are increasingly seen as essential for ensuring nuclear power remains commercially competitive in the future. The discussions are taking place after Parliament passed the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, 2025, which opened India’s tightly-controlled nuclear sector to greater private participation. The legislation allows private players to enter operations, fuel management and other segments that were previously dominated by the public sector. HIGH-LEVEL US NUCLEAR DELEGATION IN INDIA The ongoing engagement has been driven by the “US Nuclear Executive Mission to India", organised by the Washington DC-based Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) and the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF). The delegation includes NEI President and CEO Maria Korsnick, executives from Centrus Energy, Clean Core Thorium Energy, Curtiss-Wright Corporation, Holtec International and other American nuclear companies. Meetings have already taken place with Union ministers, including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, apart from interactions with state governments and Indian private sector companies. The delegation is also scheduled