India needs to review its financing rules and develop a stronger talent pipeline to achieve its ambitious goal of expanding nuclear power capacity to 100 gigawatts (GW) by 2047, according to officials and industry executives. As reported by Reuters, Abhay Karandikar, a member of top government think tank NITI Aayog, stated that India's sovereign green bond framework, green deposit and financing rules need to be reviewed as they currently do not cover nuclear investments. The South Asian nation expects that the industry will require nearly $210 billion of investment to expand capacity from the current level of 8.8 GW. Global financial institutions, including the World Bank, have started reviews to support investments into nuclear projects, Karandikar said at PowerGen India's event in New Delhi.
Global financial institutions, including the World Bank, have started reviews to support investments into nuclear projects, Karandikar said at PowerGen India's event in New Delhi. According to Reuters reports, India last year opened its tightly controlled nuclear sector to private companies in a bid to attract foreign technology and investment. The initiative represents a significant shift in the country's approach to nuclear energy development and investment mechanisms.
The shortage of specialised education and training is a major concern, industry executives said, noting that the country's clean energy industry is already facing a talent crunch. As reported by Reuters, Kalirajan S, managing director of EDF Nuclear Projects India Pvt, highlighted that "There is a lack of nuclear courses in India, starting from schools to top universities, barring a few premier institutes." France's EDF has been conducting certification programmes with vendors in India and plans to expand them further to help develop a local nuclear supply chain. NITI Aayog has formed a committee to look at how India can expand its nuclear expertise at all levels — from technicians to research and development, addressing the current skills gap in the nuclear sector.
NITI Aayog has formed a committee to look at how India can expand its nuclear expertise at all levels — from technicians to research and development, Karandikar said. According to Reuters reports, this comprehensive approach aims to address the current skills gap in the nuclear sector and ensure India has the necessary workforce to support its ambitious expansion plans. The initiative represents a systematic effort to build domestic capabilities in nuclear technology and supply chain development. Speaking at the Bharat Electricity 2026 event, Nivruti Rai, MD & CEO of Invest India, highlighted that India's data centre capacity alone is projected to grow from 1.7 GW today to 10 GW by 2032, an increase of more than five times, outpacing global trends. She emphasized that "With 725,000 tons of green hydrogen tendered and new digital and industrial loads coming online, nuclear power will be vital for stable, reliable supply."
India currently operates 25 nuclear reactors with a combined capacity of about 8.8 GW across seven sites. With many projects underway and new reactors planned, capacity is projected to reach nearly 22 GW by 2032. However, the path to 100 GW by 2047 will demand a broad spectrum of advanced technologies, robust supply chains, and innovative financing and deployment models. Central Electricity Authority (CEA) Chairman Ghanshyam Prasad noted that India commissioned a record 64,000 MW of new capacity last year and is targeting 70,000 MW this year to keep pace with rising demand from emerging sectors like data centres and green hydrogen. For nuclear specifically, accelerating site identification, streamlining regulatory approvals to under 10 years, and building skilled manpower are crucial to achieving the 100 GW vision.
