Department of Atomic Energy Marks Record Year in Power Generation and Scientific Innovation
India’s Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) achieved major milestones in 2025, recording its highest-ever nuclear power generation and expanding its footprint in healthcare, research, and advanced technology. According to the Year-End Review released on 10 December 2025, the DAE continued to drive India’s clean energy goals, develop cutting-edge scientific infrastructure, and contribute to national security and societal advancement.
Record Nuclear Power Output and New Projects
The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) achieved an all-time high generation of 56,681 million units (MUs) of electricity during FY 2024–25—surpassing the 50 billion unit mark for the first time in its history and avoiding nearly 49 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the four-unit Mahi Banswara Nuclear Power Project in Rajasthan on 25 September 2025. The 700 MW pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR) units will be developed by the NPCIL–NTPC joint venture, ASHVINI. The Atomic Energy Commission also approved pre-project activities for an additional 10 PHWRs, expanding India’s planned nuclear capacity beyond 22.5 GW by 2032.
The first two 700 MWe PHWRs at Kakrapar (KAPS–3 & 4) received regulatory clearance for regular operation, while Rajasthan Atomic Power Project Unit 7 (RAPP-7) began commercial operations in April 2025.
Expanding Healthcare and Radiopharmaceutical Capabilities
DAE strengthened India’s nuclear medicine and cancer care ecosystem in 2025. The 150-bed Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, extending the Tata Memorial Centre’s nationwide network. Over 1.3 lakh new patients were registered at TMC facilities, and five lakh women were screened for oral, breast, and cervical cancers across Varanasi, Sangrur, Mullanpur, and Guwahati.
DAE also introduced new radiopharmaceuticals, including 177Lu-DOTA-FAPI-2286 Therapy and five diagnostic interventions for precision oncology. The 30 MeV Medical Cyclotron Facility in Kolkata delivered over 370 curie doses for cancer diagnostics, while electron-beam sterilisation facilities in Indore processed over 1.53 crore medical devices—exported to 35 countries.
A new High-Intensity Gamma Irradiator (ISOMED 2.0) was completed in May 2025, becoming the world’s only land-based stationary gamma irradiator for healthcare sterilisation.
Advancements in Research, Technology, and Security
Among the year’s major scientific achievements, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) released India’s first Certified Reference Material for Rare Earth Elements, Ferrocarbonatite (BARC B1401) — only the fourth of its kind globally. The Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC) developed high-purity niobium materials essential for advanced accelerators, while the Boron-11 Enrichment Facility at Talcher began producing semiconductor-grade boron.
In national security, Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) developed and deployed CBRN defence systems, Launcher Interface Units for Agni missile systems, and Weapon Control Systems for naval platforms. ECIL also supplied C4I systems for BrahMos exports and commissioned the Niobium Thermit Production Facility in collaboration with the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.
In basic research, Indian scientists launched the InDEx dark matter experiment at the Jaduguda Underground Science Laboratory and developed a novel foetal growth prediction model using ultrasound data.
Achievements in Agriculture, Education, and Recognition
DAE’s radiation technology continued to aid agriculture, with the release of the TBM-9 banana and RTS-43 sorghum varieties, bringing the total number of BARC-developed crop varieties to 72. Seventeen new MoUs were signed for private and government gamma irradiation facilities, taking the total operational count to 40.
DAE institutions earned top national and international recognition. The department won the Rajbhasha Kirti Puraskar for the second consecutive year, while ECIL and IREL received the SCOPE Eminence Award for institutional excellence. The Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI) ranked among India’s top 10 research institutions in NIRF 2025 and topped the Nature Index for physical sciences publications.
Indian students mentored by TIFR excelled at international Olympiads, winning multiple gold and silver medals in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, and Astronomy.
The DAE’s 2025 performance reflects a year of unprecedented progress across energy, health, research, and national capability — further cementing its role in advancing India’s scientific and strategic leadership.
with inputs from PIB Delhi