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- India’s Journey to atomic energy research started with the establishment of the Automic Energy Commission on 10th August 1948, under the chairman of Dr. Homi Jahangir Bhabha. Subsequently, the Department of Automic Energy (DAE) was established in 1954 for the implementation of atomic energy programs.
Dr. Homi J. BhabhaHomi Jahangir Bhabha was an Indian nuclear physicist, and founding director, And professor of Physics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.Born: 30th October 1909, MumbaiDeath: 24th January 1966, Mont BlancAwards: Padma BhushanBooks: Homi Bhabha at artist: A selection of His Paintings, Drawings, and Sketches.
- Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). BARC was established in 1957 at Trombay (Maharastra). It Is India’s largest atomic research center. Apsara (India’s first Atomic nuclear reactor include) is located here.
- BARC’s research center: Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (Kolkata), High Altitude Research Lab (Gulmarg), Nuclear Research Lab (Kashmir), And Seismic Station (Gauribidanur, Karnataka)
- Indra Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research. It was established in 1971 and is located at Kalpakkam (Chennai). The Centre carries out research and development of indigenous technology of sodium-cooled fast breeder reactors.
- Centre for Advanced Technology (CAT). It was established in 1984 and located in Indore. The center Carries out research and development of high technology in fields like lasers, fusion, and acceleration.
- Pokhran Test: India has so far conducted 6 nuclear test explosions. The first nuclear explosion was conducted on 18th May 1974 at Pokhran in Rajasthan.
Nuclear Power Station:
Nuclear Power Station | |||
Nuclear Power Station | Location | Units | Capacity |
Tarapur | Maharashtra | 4 | 1400 MWe |
Kalpakkam | Tamil Nadu | 2 | 440 MWe |
Rawatbhata | Rajasthan | 6 | 1180 MWe |
Narota | Uttar Pradesh | 2 | 440 MWe |
Kaiga | Karnataka | 4 | 880 MWe |
Kakrapur | Gujrat | 2 | 440 MWe |
Kundankulam | Tamil Nadu | 2 | 2000 MWe |
* Of the seven atomic power station, Tarapur is the oldest and the biggest. Tarapur alone has two boiling water reactors whereas all others have pressurized heavy water reactors. | |||
* One out of two reactors has reached its milestone of 1000 MWe power generation in June 2014. | |||
* A new proposed 9900 MW nuclear power project is coming up at Jaitapur at Madban village of Ratnagiri district, Maharastra. The power project will be the largest in the world in terms of net electric power. For details, see Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project in GK’s topic, environment section. |
List of Nuclear Research Centres In India
List of Nuclear Research Centres In India | |
Research Centre | Location |
Atomic Energy Commission | Mumbai |
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre | Trombay (Mumbai) |
Electronics Corporation of India | Hyderabad |
High Altitude Research Laboratory | Gulmarg(Kashmir) |
Centre Mechanical Engineering Research Institute | Durgapur(West Bengal) |
Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research | Dhanbad(Bihar) |
Indian Rare Earths, Ltd | Mumbai |
Radio Astronomy center | Ooty |
Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics | Kolkata |
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research | Mumbai |
Tata Memorial center | Mumbai |
Uranium Corporation Of India | Jaduguda(Jharkhand) |
Institutions under the Department of Atomic Energy:
Institutions under the Department of Atomic Energy | |
Research Centre | Location |
Atomic Energy Education Society | Mumbai |
Homi Bhabha National Institute | Mumbai |
Institute of Mathematical Science | Chennai |
Board of Research in Nuclear Science | Mumbai |
National Board for Higher Mathematics | Chennai |
Harish Chandra Research Institute | Allahabad |
Institute of Plasma Research | Gandhinagar |
National Institute of Science, Education and Research | Bhubaneswar |
Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics | Kolkata |
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research | Mumbai |
Tata Memorial center | Mumbai |
Institute of Physics | Bhubaneswar |
The Major events of the Indian nuclear program are as follows:
1948: Establishment of Atomic Energy Commission
1954: dept. of Atomic Energy created
1956: Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
1957: APSARA was commissioned
1960: CIRUS was commissioned
1961: ZERLNA was commissioned1968: Nuclear Fuel complex
1969: Tarapur Power Station
1971: The Reactor Research Centre, Kalpakkam
1973: Rajasthan Atomic Power Station
18 May 1974: Pokhran I
1982: Reprocessing plant at Tarapur
1984: Mixed fuel for FBTR
1984: Atomic Energy Regulatory Board
1985: Waste Immobilisation Plant at Tarapur
1996: KAMINI Reactor
11 & 13 may, 1998: Pokhran II
2003: 500 MWe prototype fast breeder reactor’s site excavation work commenced at Kalpakkam.
6 Mar 2005: India’s first 540MWe Nuclear Power Plant achieved “Critically” at Tarapur.
2005: India is admitted to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor venture. Other parties in the venture were China, European Union, Japan, South Korea, & USA.
2005: Centre for advance Technology Indore, dedicated in the memory of Dr. Raja Ramanna, renamed as Raja Ramanna Centre for Advance Technology.
2007: Unit 3 of the 220 MWe Kaiga Atomic Power Project in North Karnataka attained critically.
2008: Low power critical facility at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre attained first critically.
30 sept. 2008: India an France signed agreement on cooperation for peaceful use of nuclear energy.
11 Nov, 2009: Unit 5 of Rajasthan Atomic Power Station achieved first critically.
22 Dec,2009: Unit 5 of RAPS synchronised to grid.
23 Jan 2010: Unit 6 of Rajasthan Atomic Power Station achieved critically.
11 Feb 2010: India and UK signed joint declaration on Nuclear cooperation.
12 Mar 2010: India and Russia agreed on aroadmap for construction of reactors of Russian design in Idndia.
28 Mar 2010: Unit 6 of Rajasthan atomic Power station synchronised to grid.
29 Mar 2010: India And USA completed negotiation on arrangements and procedures for processing U.S obligated spent nuclear fuel.
31 Mar 2010: Unit 6 of Rajasthan atmic Power station commenced commercial operation.
7 Dec 2010: India and France signed agreement for fuel supply.
27 Nov 2010: Unit 4 of Kaiga achived first critically.
9 Jan 2011: Unit 4 of Kaiga synchronised to grid.