India must urgently review its green finance frameworks and invest in developing a robust nuclear workforce to achieve its ambitious target of 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047, Abhay Karandikar, Member, NITI Aayog, said on Wednesday.
Speaking at the Bharat Electricity 2026 event here, Karandikar said policy reforms and capacity building are critical to unlocking private and global investment in the nuclear sector.
Karandikar said India’s sovereign green bond, RBI green deposit, and Sebi green debt securities frameworks currently exclude nuclear energy, and called for their review to enable nuclear access to green finance, echoing global shifts by institutions like the World Bank and ADB.
He also highlighted the urgent need for specialised nuclear education and skills, adding that NITI Aayog has set up a committee to chart a roadmap for capacity building across all levels, as strong talent is essential for sustainable sectoral growth.
Speaking at the same event, Nivruti Rai, MD & CEO, Invest India, said the country’s data centre capacity alone is projected to grow from 1.7 gigawatt (GW) today to 10 GW by 2032, an increase of more than five times, outpacing global trends.
“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. Achieving our 100 GW nuclear ambition by 2047 will require a strong push for indigenisation to reduce costs by 30 percent, and closing technology gaps in areas like uranium enrichment and small modular reactors,” she said.
Central Electricity Authority (CEA) Chairman Ghanshyam Prasad, who was also present at the event, said 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, accelerating site identification, streamlining regulatory approvals to under 10 years, and building skilled manpower are crucial to achieving our 100 GW vision,” he said.
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.
