New Delhi, July 20: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh on Thursday informed the Rajya Sabha about India’s rising Nuclear Power capacity.
In reply to a question, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the present installed nuclear power capacity is set to increase from 7480 MW to 22480 MW by 2031. He informed that the present installed nuclear power capacity in the country is 7480 MW comprising 23 nuclear power reactors. He said the nuclear power reactors generated 46982 Million Units of electricity (including infirm generation) in the year 2022-23.
Dr Jitendra Singh said the share of nuclear power in the total electricity generation in the country was about 2.8% in the year 2022-23. He said that the present installed nuclear power capacity is set to increase from 7480 MW to 22480 MW by 2031 on progressive completion of projects under construction and accorded sanction. The Government has also accorded ‘in principle’ approval for new sites to set up nuclear reactors in the future, he said.
“The present installed nuclear power capacity is set to increase from 7480 MW to 22480 MW by 2031 on progressive completion of projects under construction and accorded sanction. The Government has also accorded ‘in principle’ approval for new sites to set up nuclear reactors in future,” he said.
In reply to another question, Dr Jitendra Singh said the National Biopharma Mission is supporting 101 pan- India projects in the Biopharma sector which has provided increased employment opportunities. “These projects have engaged 1065 manpower including 304 scientists/ researchers. The Mission is also supporting the development of human capital by providing specific training to address the critical skill gap for strengthening product development,” he said.
Dr Jitendra Singh said the National Biopharma Mission is supporting more than 150 organizations including academia, start-ups and MSMEs. Projects have been sanctioned to 30 MSMEs to support affordable product development. The MSMEs have also benefited from the shared facilities, clinical trial networks and Technology Transfer Offices supported under the Mission. Various training in product development, bioethics and regulatory aspects have been conducted under NBM where representatives from MSMEs have participated.
The National Biopharma Mission (NBM) aims at developing an ecosystem for affordable product development through the following verticals, development of product leads for vaccines, biosimilars, medical devices and diagnostics that are relevant to the public health need by focusing on managed partnerships, he said. The Mission has been supporting the development of vaccine candidates for Cholera, Influenza, Dengue, Chikungunya, Pneumococcal disease, COVID-19 and related technologies; Biosimilar products and related technologies for diabetes, rheumatological and ophthalmic diseases, cancer; medical devices & diagnostics including devices for imaging, pumps for dialysis, endoscopes, bone implants, MRI scanners and diagnostics for COVID 19.
