Nuclear Power Plants in India: Map, List, & Key Facts 2026

Nuclear power plants in India are an important part of the country’s strategy to ensure energy security while reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Nuclear energy provides a clean, environment-friendly, stable and continuous power supply, making it crucial for meeting India’s growing electricity demand.

As of 2026, India operates 24 nuclear reactors across 7 locations in 6 states, with a total installed capacity of about 8,800 MWe (8.8 GW). All civilian reactors are managed by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).

This article provides a comprehensive overview of nuclear power plants in India, including their capacity, state-wise locations, key facts, and a free downloadable PDF map.

Operational Nuclear Power Plants in India

India currently operates nuclear power plants across seven locations in six states. These facilities house 24 operational reactors with varying capacities and technologies as given in the table:

Please Note: In the table below,

• No. of Units refers to the total number of operational reactors at each nuclear power plant.
• Capacity indicates the combined installed capacity in Megawatt electric (MWe) of all reactors at that plant.
• Reactor Type specifies the technology used:
  • PHWR – Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor
  • BWR – Boiling Water Reactor
  • PWR – Pressurised Water Reactor
  • VVER – Voda Voda Energetichesky Reaktor (a Russian design of PWR)
• Cooling Source shows the river, reservoir, or sea used to supply cooling water for the reactors.

^**Please Note:

Although Rajasthan Atomic Power Station has a total of 7 reactor units (RAPS-1 to RAPS-7), the first unit (RAPS-1) has been permanently shut down since 2004.

Apart from the above operational nuclear reactors, several other nuclear power projects are currently under construction, as listed below:

• Kudankulam Units 3–6 (Tamil Nadu): 4 × 1000 MWe (VVER, Russia collaboration)
• Rajasthan Unit-8 (RAPS-8): 1 × 700 MWe (PHWR)
• Kaiga Units 5 & 6 (Karnataka): 2 × 700 MWe (PHWR)
• Gorakhpur Units 1 & 2 (Haryana): 2 × 700 MWe (PHWR)
• Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR): It is a 500 MWe sodium-cooled, fast breeder reactor that is being constructed at the same site as the Madras Atomic Power Station at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu.

Important Points to Remember

• As of 2026, India operates 24 nuclear reactors with an installed capacity of 8780 Megawatt electric (MWe). These reactors are located in seven different locations across six states in India.
• Out of the 24 operating reactors, 20 reactors are Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), 2 are Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs), and 2 are Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs).
• India has set an ambitious goal of achieving 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047 (current capacity: ~8.8 GW).
• Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS), located in Tarapur, Maharashtra, is the first and the oldest commercial nuclear power station built in India. It started operation in October 1969.
• The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is the newest Nuclear Power Plant in India. Currently, it has two operational units.
• The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, with an operational capacity of 2000 MWe (each unit has 1000 MWe capacity) is also the largest Nuclear Power Plant in India.
• With 6 reactors, Rajasthan Atomic Power Station has the highest number of operating reactors in India.
• The Atomic Energy Commission of India is the governing body of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India. The DAE is under the direct charge of the Prime Minister of India.

Key Organizations and Authorities

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)

• The NPCIL is an Indian Public Sector Undertaking based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, responsible for the generation of electricity from nuclear power in India.
• It is the Primary operator of nuclear power plants in India.
• It is wholly owned by the Government of India and is administered by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).

Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB)

• Established in 1983, the AERB serves as India’s nuclear regulatory authority.
• It operates under the Atomic Energy Act of 1962.
• The mission of the AERB is to ensure the use of ionising radiation and nuclear energy in India does not cause undue risk to the health of people and the environment.

Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL)

• The UCIL manages India’s uranium mining and processing operations.
• It is a Public Sector Enterprise under the administrative control of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)

• India’s premier nuclear research facility, headquartered in Trombay, Mumbai (Maharashtra)
• Founded by Homi Bhabha as the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET) in 1954.
• Leads reactor design and development
• Operates under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), which is directly overseen by the Prime Minister of India.

Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI)

• A wholly owned Enterprise of Government of India under the administrative control of the Department of Atomic Energy (DEA).
• Incorporated in 2003 as a Public Limited Company under the Companies Act, 1956.
• Implements Fast Breeder Reactor programme.
• Operates Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, Madras (Tamil Nadu).

Indo-US Nuclear Deal and NSG Waiver

The 2005 Indo-US Nuclear Deal and subsequent Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) waiver in 2008 marked a watershed moment for India’s nuclear program:

• Ended over three decades of nuclear isolation
• Enabled civilian nuclear cooperation with multiple countries
• Allowed uranium imports from Australia, Canada, Kazakhstan, and Russia
• Facilitated technology transfer for reactor construction

India’s Three-Stage Nuclear Programme

India follows a unique Three-Stage Nuclear Power Programme, formulated by Dr. Homi Bhabha in the 1950s, designed to maximize the utilization of the country’s limited uranium resources while leveraging its abundant thorium reserves. India possesses approximately 25% of the world’s known thorium reserves, compared to only 1-2% of global uranium reserves.

Stage 1: Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs)

• Fuel: Natural uranium
• Purpose: Generate electricity and produce plutonium-239 from uranium-238
• Status: Operational with 21 PHWRs currently running

Stage 2: Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs)

• Fuel: Plutonium-239 and depleted uranium
• Purpose: Breed more plutonium than consumed and produce uranium-233 from thorium
• Status: Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor under construction at Kalpakkam

Stage 3: Thorium-Based Reactors

• Fuel: Uranium-233 from thorium-232
• Purpose: Utilize India’s vast thorium reserves (25% of global reserves)
• Status: Research and development phase