Russia’s SMR edge: Why India’s new nuclear rules could favour Moscow
India's draft SHANTI Act rules, requiring foreign nuclear technology to be design-certified and operational in its country of origin or another foreign country, could significantly favor Russia in India's nuclear sector. Russia's state-owned Rosatom has a clear lead in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) with operational units like the Akademik Lomonosov, unlike most Western competitors whose SMRs are still in the design certification phase. This policy, coupled with Russia's cost-competitive Light Water Reactors (LWRs) compared to Western alternatives, positions Moscow to expand its nuclear cooperation with India, including proposals for new-generation VVER-1200 reactors and SMRs for localized applications.
India's draft SHANTI Act rules, requiring foreign nuclear technology to be design-certified and operational in its country of origin or another foreign country, could significantly favor Russia in India's nuclear sector. Russia's state-owned Rosatom has a clear lead in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) with operational units like the Akademik Lomonosov, unlike most Western competitors whose SMRs are still in the design certification phase. This policy, coupled with Russia's cost-competitive Light Water Reactors (LWRs) compared to Western alternatives, positions Moscow to expand its nuclear cooperation with India, including proposals for new-generation VVER-1200 reactors and SMRs for localized applications.
Exam linkage
GS Paper 3: Science and Technology (Nuclear Technology, Energy), Indian Economy (Infrastructure - Energy Sector, Investment Models).
Syllabus mapping
This topic appears in Mains
Questions on Indian Economy come up regularly in GS papers. Practice writing an answer — and see exactly what earns marks.
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