Our Bureau
Mumbai
India is poised to loosen its nuclear energy regulations in an effort to attract foreign investment and modernize its atomic infrastructure, but overseas vendors have flagged pressing concerns about gaps in domestic supplier quality and technology standards.
Legal Reforms and Sector Opening
The Indian government is preparing legislative amendments that will make the nuclear sector more accessible to foreign equipment providers and boost domestic capacity. These changes seek to align atomic energy laws with global norms, addressing investor demands for rigorous safeguards and clearer processes.
Quality Standards and Vendor Warnings
Foreign suppliers underscore a need for robust quality upgrades throughout India’s supplier base, particularly among second and third-tier contributors to major firms such as L&T, Bharat Forge, Godrej & Boyce, and Walchandnagar Industries. They have recommended launching a national training programme for equipment suppliers and pushing for strict quality-control regimes, drawing on models adopted by Japan and China in their own nuclear modernization efforts.
Focus on New Technologies and Cybersecurity
Vendors also note the urgency of preparing India’s industry to support advanced technologies such as light water reactors (LWRs) and small modular reactors (SMRs). In parallel, there is a call for comprehensive cybersecurity protocols to safeguard sensitive data and prevent cyber threats against critical infrastructure—a priority reinforced by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) safety and quality assurance codes.
Broader Implications and Upcoming Initiatives
The drive to upgrade standards is partly shaped by past global experiences with nuclear project overruns and technical challenges, as seen in Europe’s Olkiluoto-3 reactor. Meanwhile, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre is advancing indigenous SMRs to widen India’s low-carbon electricity mix and support renewable integration.
As legal reforms progress, the success of India’s ambitious nuclear expansion will hinge on effective quality upgrades and strengthened supplier expertise to meet global benchmarks.
