📌 Topic 03 of 6 · Chapter 03 · Nuclear Technology
Nuclear Power Plants in India
Tarapur, Rawatbhata, Kudankulam, Kaiga, Kalpakkam — complete notes for UPSC & PSC exams.
⚛️ Nuclear Power Plants of India
| Plant | State | Reactor Type | Units | Key Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarapur (TAPS) | Maharashtra | BWR (Boiling Water Reactor) | 4 units | First nuclear plant in India (1969); US assistance; Units 1&2 = BWR; Units 3&4 = PHWR |
| Rawatbhata (RAPS) | Rajasthan | PHWR | 6 units | Canadian assistance (CANDU design); largest number of units; on Chambal river |
| Kalpakkam (MAPS) | Tamil Nadu | PHWR + FBR | 2 PHWR + PFBR | Fully indigenous; PFBR (Fast Breeder Reactor) under construction; on Bay of Bengal |
| Narora (NAPS) | Uttar Pradesh | PHWR | 2 units | On Ganga river; 220 MW each |
| Kakrapar (KAPS) | Gujarat | PHWR | 4 units | On Tapi river; 220 MW (Units 1&2) + 700 MW (Units 3&4) |
| Kaiga (KGS) | Karnataka | PHWR | 4 units | In Western Ghats; 220 MW each; NPCIL operated |
| Kudankulam (KKNPP) | Tamil Nadu | PWR (VVER) | 2 units (+ 4 planned) | Largest nuclear plant in India (2,000 MW); Russian assistance (Rosatom); operational 2013 |
| Gorakhpur (GHAVP) | Haryana | PHWR | Under construction | 700 MW units; under construction |
⭐ Key Facts — Nuclear Plants:
• Tarapur (Maharashtra) = first nuclear plant in India (1969) = US assistance
• Kudankulam (Tamil Nadu) = largest nuclear plant = 2,000 MW = Russian assistance
• Rawatbhata (Rajasthan) = most units (6) = Canadian assistance
• Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu) = fully indigenous = PFBR under construction
• India has 22 nuclear reactors at 7 nuclear power plants
• Nuclear power = ~3% of India’s electricity
• Tarapur (Maharashtra) = first nuclear plant in India (1969) = US assistance
• Kudankulam (Tamil Nadu) = largest nuclear plant = 2,000 MW = Russian assistance
• Rawatbhata (Rajasthan) = most units (6) = Canadian assistance
• Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu) = fully indigenous = PFBR under construction
• India has 22 nuclear reactors at 7 nuclear power plants
• Nuclear power = ~3% of India’s electricity