Union MoS Jitendra Singh Announces North India’s First Nuclear Power Plant in Gorakhpur, Haryana.
National
In March 2025, Union Minister of State (MoS), Independent Charge (I/C), Jitendra Singh, Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region (MDONER), announced that North India's first nuclear power plant is being established in Gorakhpur, Haryana. This initiative aligns with India's strategy to expand nuclear energy production while reducing carbon emissions.
- The Union Minister also reaffirmed commitment to the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project (JNPP) in Maharashtra, which is set to become India’s largest nuclear power plant.
- The project has faced delays due to shifts in agreements with French stakeholders and procedural issues related to environmental clearance, which expired in December 2022.
- The Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project (JNPP) will feature six reactors of 1,730 MW each, totaling 10,380 MW, contributing around 10% to India’s 100 GW nuclear energy target by 2047. Under India’s Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) framework, operators hold primary responsibility for incidents, with a dedicated ₹1,500 crore insurance pool to address liability concerns.
Main Point :- (i) India targets net-zero emissions by 2070, with nuclear power projects like Jaitapur and Gorakhpur playing a crucial role in clean energy expansion.
(ii) The Viability Gap Funding (VGF) target for battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity has been increased to 13,200 MWh from 4,000 MWh, supporting India's renewable energy push.
(iii) India plans to invest ₹15 lakh crore in green energy, while the Philippines is considering India as a key buyer for nickel, essential for EV batteries.
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