India is preparing to invite bids within the next three to six months for setting up a 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200), marking a significant push to position nuclear energy as a key pillar of its green transition.
The bidding process will be open to foreign companies, although they will be required to partner with domestic firms. The design of the BSMR-200 will be standardised, with the initial unit serving as a template for future projects expected to follow. MWe refers to megawatt electrical, or the net electricity generated. “A cost of roughly Rs 30 crore per megawatt (MW) has been approved for BSMR-200 as a pilot project.
The BSMR-200 is being jointly developed by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited. The total cost of development and construction is estimated at around Rs 5,960 crore and will be funded under the Nuclear Energy Mission. Once administrative and financial approvals are secured, construction is expected to take between 60 and 72 months.
Inter-ministerial consultations are currently underway to finalise the details of the proposed bid. This initiative follows the opening up of the nuclear sector to private participation through the enactment of the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act in December 2025. “A final call on the proposal will be taken by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs,” The domestic companies capable of executing the project on an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) basis have already been identified.
The Union Budget has allocated Rs 20,000 crore under the Nuclear Energy Mission to develop at least five indigenously designed and operational small modular reactors (SMRs) by 2033. India is targeting 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047, alongside a strong push for localisation and the development of domestic manufacturing capabilities in nuclear technology.
