Nuclear Power Plants in India: Quick Answer
India has 24 nuclear power reactors in commercial operation, totalling 8,780 MW across 7 sites, all run by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) under the Department of Atomic Energy. The largest site is Kudankulam (2,000 MW), Tamil Nadu; the oldest is Tarapur (1969), Maharashtra. This page is as of 7 November 2026.
🔥 Key Exam Takeaway: Total = 24 reactors, 8,780 MW, 7 sites. Largest = Kudankulam, 2,000 MW. Oldest = Tarapur, 1969. Mix = 20 PHWR + 2 BWR + 2 VVER. Excluded: RAPS-1 (100 MW), shut since 2004. Not yet counted: the 500 MWe PFBR at Kalpakkam — first criticality 6 April 2026, still being commissioned.
Why do websites show 25 reactors or 8 plants? Both miscount. "25" adds RAPS-1, shut since 2004 and explicitly excluded by the Government. "8 plants" counts the Kalpakkam fast breeder, which is not yet operating. The official February 2026 Parliament figure is 24 reactors and 8,780 MW.
What Is a Nuclear Power Plant?
A nuclear power plant makes electricity from the heat of nuclear fission — splitting uranium atoms — instead of burning coal or gas. The heat makes steam, the steam spins a turbine, and the turbine drives a generator. The plant emits no carbon dioxide while generating.
India's programme follows a three-stage plan drawn up by Homi J. Bhabha, the father of the Indian nuclear programme:
| Stage | Fuel and reactor | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Natural uranium in pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs) | Generate power; produce plutonium as a by-product |
| Stage 2 | Plutonium-based fast breeder reactors (FBRs) | Breed more fuel than consumed; use uranium-238 |
| Stage 3 | Thorium-based reactors | Use India's thorium reserves |
All 20 PHWRs belong to Stage 1. Stage 2 began on 6 April 2026, when the PFBR at Kalpakkam reached first criticality; Stage 3 is still in the future. Nuclear was about 1.6% of installed capacity as of 30 September 2026.
Latest Changes: RAPS-7, the PFBR and the SHANTI Act
RAPS-7 — the newest working reactor (April 2025). Rajasthan Atomic Power Station Unit 7, a 700 MW indigenous PHWR at Rawatbhata, entered commercial operation on 15 April 2025, taking the national count to 24 reactors and 8,780 MW.
PFBR first criticality — 6 April 2026. The 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam — built by BHAVINI to an IGCAR design — attained first criticality (a self-sustaining chain reaction) on 6 April 2026. This sodium-cooled fast breeder opens Stage 2 of Bhabha's plan. It is not yet generating electricity: power-raising and grid connection follow; no commercial-operation date has been announced. Do not add its 500 MW to the 8,780 MW total.
The SHANTI Act — December 2025. The SHANTI Act, 2025 (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India) received assent on 20 December 2025 and took effect the next day. It repeals the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, gives the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) statutory footing, and — for the first time — lets licensed private companies build, own and operate nuclear plants. The roadmap: 8.78 GW today, about 22 GW by 2031–32, 100 GW by 2047 (NPCIL ~54 GW, others ~46 GW). No private licence had been granted as of July 2026 — "private companies run reactors" is a future prospect, not a present fact.
Nuclear Power Plants in India: Complete List of 7 Sites
One table, every operating reactor counted once. Years are the year each site's first unit started; capacities are the 2026 operational totals.
| Site | State | Reactors | Type | Capacity | First unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarapur | Maharashtra | 4 | BWR + PHWR | 1,400 MW | 1969 |
| Rawatbhata (Rajasthan) | Rajasthan | 6* | PHWR | 1,780 MW | 1973 |
| Kalpakkam (Madras) | Tamil Nadu | 2 | PHWR | 440 MW | 1984 |
| Narora | Uttar Pradesh | 2 | PHWR | 440 MW | 1991 |
| Kakrapar | Gujarat | 4 | PHWR | 1,840 MW | 1993 |
| Kaiga | Karnataka | 4 | PHWR | 880 MW | 2000 |
| Kudankulam | Tamil Nadu | 2 | VVER (PWR) | 2,000 MW | 2013 |
| Total | 6 states | 24 | 20 PHWR + 2 BWR + 2 VVER | 8,780 MW | — |
* Rawatbhata's seventh unit, RAPS-1 (100 MW), shut since 2004, is excluded from both totals. Tamil Nadu has two sites; the other five states have one each.
Reading the table. Tarapur is the only site with two reactor types: two 160 MW BWRs from 1969 plus two 540 MW PHWRs added in 2005–06. Kakrapar jumped from 440 MW to 1,840 MW when its two 700 MW units started in 2023–24; Rawatbhata's older 1,180 MW likewise predates RAPS-7. Kudankulam's two Russian-assisted VVER-1000 units make it the largest site; its planned 6,000 MW six-unit total is a future figure.
The 20/24 distinction. Four reactors are in project mode for refurbishment — Tarapur Units 1 and 2 (2 × 160 MW), Madras Unit 1 (220 MW) and Kaiga Unit 1 (220 MW), together 760 MW. The remaining 20 reactors, 8,020 MW, are the ones generating. Headline: "24 reactors, 8,780 MW installed". Generating: "20 operating, 8,020 MW".
What Is Being Built: 17 Reactors Under Implementation
Per the Parliament answer of 5 February 2026, 17 reactors totalling 13,100 MW are under implementation, completing progressively by 2031–32 (capacity then about 22,380 MW including the 500 MWe PFBR, which sits outside the 17). Two dated groups — never merge them:
| Group (5 February 2026) | Projects | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Under construction — 7 reactors | RAPP-8, Rawatbhata (700 MW); Kudankulam Units 3–4 and 5–6 (4,000 MW); Gorakhpur Units 1–2, Haryana (1,400 MW) | 6,100 MW |
| Pre-project activities — 10 reactors | Kaiga Units 5–6; Gorakhpur Units 3–4; Chutka Units 1–2, Madhya Pradesh; Mahi Banswara Units 1–4, Rajasthan (ASHVINI JV, NPCIL–NTPC; foundation stone 25 September 2025) | 7,000 MW |
Beyond the 17: the PFBR (500 MWe) is being commissioned at Kalpakkam, with FBR-1 and FBR-2 approved for pre-project work there; Jaitapur (6 × 1,650 MW EPRs, 9,900 MW, French design) remains planned and stalled.
Records and Firsts
| Record | Answer |
|---|---|
| First nuclear power station in India | Tarapur, Maharashtra (1969) |
| Largest nuclear power plant (site) | Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu — 2,000 MW |
| First fully indigenously built power station | Kalpakkam (Madras), Tamil Nadu (1984) |
| Newest operating reactor | RAPS-7, Rawatbhata — commercial operation 15 April 2025 |
| First research reactor (not a power plant) | Apsara, Trombay, Mumbai — criticality 4 August 1956, Asia's first research reactor |
| First fast breeder milestone | PFBR, Kalpakkam — first criticality 6 April 2026, opening Stage 2 |
| State with the most sites | Tamil Nadu — 2 (Kalpakkam and Kudankulam) |
Apsara is the great trap of this topic. Apsara was India's first reactor and Asia's first research reactor — but it never generated electricity. It was a 1 MW pool-type research reactor at BARC, Trombay, dedicated by Jawaharlal Nehru in January 1957; it shut down in 2009 and was succeeded by Apsara-U (2 MW) in 2018. The first power station is Tarapur; the first reactor is Apsara.
Common Mistakes Students Make
- Counting 25 reactors. That adds RAPS-1 (100 MW), shut since 2004 and officially excluded.
- Counting the PFBR as operational. First criticality (6 April 2026) is a commissioning milestone, not power generation; its 500 MW is not in the 8,780 MW total.
- Saying Kudankulam is 6,000 MW. That is the planned six-unit total; today it is 2,000 MW (two units).
- Calling Apsara a power plant. It was a research reactor; Tarapur (1969) is the first power station.
- Using stale capacities. Kakrapar 440 MW and Rawatbhata 1,180 MW are pre-2023; the 2026 figures are 1,840 MW and 1,780 MW.
- Saying India has 8 nuclear plants. There are 7 sites; the "8th" in some lists is the PFBR, not yet operating.
- Calling Jaitapur operational. Jaitapur (9,900 MW planned) is stalled; no construction is under way.
- Saying private companies already run reactors. The SHANTI Act (December 2025) permits it under licence, but no private licence had been granted as of July 2026.
How to Remember Nuclear Power Plants
- Headline: 24 – 8,780 – 7. Twenty-four reactors, 8,780 MW, seven sites.
- Learn the year ladder: 1969 – 1973 – 1984 – 1991 – 1993 – 2000 – 2013. Tarapur, Rawatbhata, Kalpakkam, Narora, Kakrapar, Kaiga, Kudankulam.
- Learn the capacity ladder: 1,400 – 1,780 – 440 – 440 – 1,840 – 880 – 2,000. The two 440s (Kalpakkam, Narora) are the pair to remember.
- "Four in repair, twenty at work." 4 reactors (760 MW) in refurbishment; 20 reactors (8,020 MW) generating.
- Tarapur is the only mixed site: BWR + PHWR. Every other site has one type.
- K-2000 = Kudankulam, largest; T-1969 = Tarapur, oldest.
- 6 April 2026 = Stage 2 begins. PFBR criticality is the date that moves India from Stage 1 to Stage 2.
Nuclear Power Plants MCQs with Answers
Q1. How many nuclear power reactors are in commercial operation in India, and what is their total capacity? (a) 22 reactors, 6,780 MW (b) 24 reactors, 8,780 MW (c) 25 reactors, 8,880 MW (d) 7 reactors, 8,780 MW Answer: (b) 24 reactors, 8,780 MW — across 7 sites, excluding RAPS-1 (100 MW, shut since 2004).
Q2. Which is the largest nuclear power plant site in India? (a) Tarapur (b) Rawatbhata (c) Kakrapar (d) Kudankulam Answer: (d) Kudankulam — 2,000 MW from two VVER-1000 units in Tamil Nadu.
Q3. Which is the oldest nuclear power station in India? (a) Kalpakkam (b) Tarapur (c) Narora (d) Kaiga Answer: (b) Tarapur — first unit started in 1969, Maharashtra.
Q4. Why is RAPS-1 not counted in India's 24 operating reactors? (a) It was never built (b) It is under extended shutdown since 2004 (c) It is a research reactor (d) It is in another country Answer: (b) It is under extended shutdown since 2004 — its 100 MW is excluded from the 8,780 MW total.
Q5. How many of the 24 reactors are currently in refurbishment, and how many are generating? (a) 2 in refurbishment, 22 generating (b) 4 in refurbishment, 20 generating (c) 6 in refurbishment, 18 generating (d) None in refurbishment Answer: (b) 4 in refurbishment (760 MW), 20 generating (8,020 MW) — TAPS-1 and 2, MAPS-1 and Kaiga-1.
Q6. The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam attained first criticality on: (a) 4 August 1956 (b) 15 April 2025 (c) 6 April 2026 (d) 20 December 2025 Answer: (c) 6 April 2026 — the 500 MWe reactor built by BHAVINI; still being commissioned, not yet generating power.
Q7. Apsara, which attained criticality on 4 August 1956, was: (a) India's first nuclear power station (b) Asia's first nuclear research reactor (c) India's largest reactor (d) A fast breeder reactor Answer: (b) Asia's first nuclear research reactor — a 1 MW research reactor at Trombay that never generated electricity.
Q8. Which organisation operates all seven nuclear power sites in India? (a) BHAVINI (b) BARC (c) NPCIL (d) AERB Answer: (c) NPCIL — the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited; BHAVINI builds the PFBR; AERB is the regulator.
Q9. As of February 2026, how many reactors were under implementation in India? (a) 7 reactors, 6,100 MW (b) 10 reactors, 7,000 MW (c) 17 reactors, 13,100 MW (d) 23 reactors, 17,300 MW Answer: (c) 17 reactors, 13,100 MW — 7 under construction + 10 in pre-project activities, completing progressively by 2031–32.
Q10. The SHANTI Act, 2025, which came into effect on 21 December 2025, primarily: (a) Shut down all private research (b) Let licensed private companies build and operate nuclear plants, replacing the 1962 and 2010 Acts (c) Banned fast breeder reactors (d) Moved all plants to state governments Answer: (b) Let licensed private companies build and operate nuclear plants, replacing the 1962 and 2010 Acts — supporting the 100 GW by 2047 target; no private licence granted as of July 2026.
Nuclear Power Plants FAQs
How many nuclear power plants are there in India?
24 reactors, 8,780 MW, at 7 sites — excluding RAPS-1 (100 MW), shut since 2004.
Which is the largest nuclear power plant in India?
Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu: 2,000 MW from two Russian-assisted VVER-1000 reactors. The planned six-unit total is 6,000 MW; only two units operate today.
Which is the oldest nuclear power plant in India?
Tarapur, Maharashtra — first unit 1969. It is also the only site with two reactor types, BWRs and PHWRs.
Is the PFBR at Kalpakkam operational?
Not yet. The 500 MWe reactor reached first criticality on 6 April 2026 and is being commissioned; power-raising and grid connection follow, with no commercial-operation date announced. Its capacity is not part of the 8,780 MW total.
Who operates India's nuclear power plants?
The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), under the Department of Atomic Energy, operates all seven sites. BHAVINI (DAE) is building the PFBR; AERB regulates safety.
What is India's three-stage nuclear programme?
Stage 1 burns natural uranium in PHWRs; Stage 2 uses plutonium in fast breeders to breed more fuel; Stage 3 will use thorium, of which India holds large reserves. The PFBR's criticality in April 2026 opened Stage 2.
What is the 100 GW by 2047 target?
The Nuclear Energy Mission target (Union Budget 2025–26): grow capacity from 8.78 GW to about 22 GW by 2031–32 and 100 GW by 2047. The SHANTI Act opened the sector to licensed private participation; NPCIL's own plan is about 54 GW, the rest from other operators.
Related topics: revise major dams of India, Indian rivers origin and end list, states and capitals of India 2026 and physics for RRB Group D next. Also see Mineral Producing States in India (uranium/thorium context). Also see Thermal Power Plants in India: State-wise List, Largest, Capacity (2026).
Practice Next
- Test yourself: SSC CGL General Awareness Sectional Mock Test 01
- Science practice: SSC CGL Physics Mock Test 01 and RRB NTPC General Awareness Sectional Mock Test 01
- SSC hub: Free SSC Mock Tests
- More free notes: All Study Notes
- More GK lists: Research Institutes in India List
Sources: PIB/Department of Atomic Energy Parliament answers, 4 December 2025 (Release ID 2198941, reactor annexure), 4 February 2026 (24 plants, 8,780 MW, RAPS-1 excluded) and 5 February 2026 (Release ID 2223790); PIB release on the PFBR attaining first criticality, 6 April 2026 (PRID 2249783); NPCIL company page (24 reactors, 8,780 MW); LotusArise nuclear power plants page (updated 1 November 2026) for site details, the 1.6% share and the SHANTI Act summary, cross-checked against PIB and legal-press coverage (assent 20 December 2025, in effect 21 December 2025). Testbook's 25-reactor figure checked, not used. As of 7 November 2026.