India is set to invite bids within the next three to six months for the development of a 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200), marking a major step in advancing nuclear energy as a core pillar of the country’s clean energy transition.

The project, being developed under the Department of Atomic Energy with support from the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL), is part of the government’s broader Nuclear Energy Mission aimed at scaling up low-carbon baseload power and strengthening long-term energy security.

The BSMR-200 is a compact pressurised heavy water reactor design derived from India’s proven 220 MWe reactor technology, and is intended to serve as a standardised model for future deployments across the country. Officials have indicated that the design will enable faster replication and wider participation in nuclear capacity expansion.

Under the proposed bidding framework, foreign companies will be permitted to participate, subject to mandatory collaboration with domestic partners, reflecting India’s emphasis on localisation and technology partnership in strategic sectors.

The pilot project has received an approved cost benchmark of around ₹30 crore per megawatt, signalling the government’s intent to establish a structured commercial framework for small modular reactor deployment.

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The initiative comes at a time when India is accelerating its nuclear expansion strategy, backed by a ₹20,000 crore Nuclear Energy Mission focused on developing multiple SMR designs, including the BSMR-200 and smaller reactor variants.

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