NUCLEAR PROGRAMME
ISOTOPE- Same number of protons, REACTOR BOMB
but different no. of neutrons
India has a 3-stage nuclear energy
program which is based on a closed
nuclear fuel cycle-
. o Stage-I: Natural uranium fuelled
. Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors
(PHWRs).
o Stage-II: Fast Breeder Reactors
(FBRs) utilising plutonium-based fuel.
o Stage-III: Advanced nuclear power
systems for utilisation of thorium.
Breeder reactor:
It generates more fissile
material than it consumes
BUDDHI IAS ACADEMY
HOW it WORKS ?
❑ Moderator: slows down fast neutrons (Water, heavy water, D2O Graphite)
❑ Control rods: absorbs neutrons, controls reaction rate, made of Cadmium
❑ Coolant: transfers heat from reactor to boiler
FISSION FUSION
Heavy nucleus breaks Two nuclei combine to
into two lighter nuclei form have a nucleus
Chain reaction ✓ Chain reaction ×
Bombardment Heating
Controllable. Non- Controllable
NUCLEAR WASTE. ✓ NUCLEAR WASTE ✗
Types of nuclear reactor
D2O
Thermal Slow or thermal neutrons Boiling,pressurised,and heavy water reactor
Fast neutron Fast neutrons Very rare due to complexity and cost
Incorporated in 1967
Public sector enterprise under Department of atomic
energy
operates six underground mines (Bagjata, Jaduguda,
Bhatin, Narwapahar, Turamdih and Mohuldih) and
one open pit mine (Banduhurang) in Jharkhand
BUDDHI IAS ACADEMY
Uranium is a rare earth element
Most common isotope of uranium - U238
What is critical mass ?
it is the smallest amount
of fissile material
needed for a sustained
nuclear chain reaction.
BUDDHI IAS ACADEMY
India has only 2%
of worlds uranium
reserves on the
other hand 25% of
the worlds thorium
reserves.
BUDDHI IAS ACADEMY
1969 - Tarapur Atomic Power
Station was first commercial
Uses of Depleted Uranium:
nuclear power station built in
✓ Nuclear weapons;
India.
✓ Radiation shield in medical
equipment.
✓ Tank armour;
✓ Armour piercing ammunition
✓ Counter-weights in aircrafts,
etc.
1. To meet its rapidly growing energy
demand, some opine that India should
pursue research and development on
Thorium as the future fuel of nuclear
energy. In this context, what advantage
does Thorium hold over uranium?
1.Thorium is far more abundant in
nature than uranium
2.On the basis of per unit mass of
mined mineral, thorium can generate
more energy compared to natural
uranium.
3.Thorium produces less harmful waste
in comparison to uranium.
Which of the statements given above
is/are Correct?
• [A]1 Only
• [B]2 & 3 Only PRE 2012
• [C]1 & 3 Only
• [D]1,2 & 3
NUCLEAR FUSION - ITER ITER:
Inter governmental org.
Signed in 2006.
Formally Estb. in 2007.
International Thermonuclear
Experimental Reactor:
✓ for nuclear Fusion (not fission)
✓ World’s largest tokamak,
under construction in France
✓ Members: USA, Russia, EU,
India, China, Japan, Korea
CHINA - EAST
TOKOMAK is the name
of a machine through
which nuclear fusion
takes place. It is made
possible by creating
plasma at very high
temperature by using
Magnetic Field.
S.Korea - K STAR
Advantages using fusion process:
1. Abundant energy: Fusing atoms together releases nearly four million times more energy than a
chemical reaction such as the burning of coal, oil or gas etc.
2. Sustainability: Fusion in ITER will require two elements: deuterium and tritium. Deuterium can
be distilled from all forms of water, while tritium will be produced during the fusion reaction as
fusion neutrons interact with lithium.
3. No CO₂: Fusion doesn't emit harmful toxins like carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases into
the atmosphere. Its major by-product is helium: an inert, non-toxic gas.
4. Limited risk of proliferation: Fusion doesn't employ fissile materials like uranium and plutonium.
5. Examples of plasmas on Earth are: neon tubes, lightning, the northern lights (aurora borealis),
and the glow of plasma televisions.
BUDDHI IAS ACADEMY PRELIMS 2008
PRELIMS 2016
AUSTRALIA > CANADA > Kazakhstan
BUDDHI IAS ACADEMY
Nuclear power Corporation of India
(1987 Mumbai)- Responsible for
nuclear power generation in India
- PSU under Department of Atomic
Energy (under PMO)
▪
International atomic energy agency
• Set up as the world’s “Atoms for Peace” organization in 1957 within the United Nations family.
• Reports to both the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council.
• Headquarters in Vienna, Austria.
MISSION Members
• Peaceful uses: of nuclear energy • 2018: Grenada
• Safeguards: to verify it is not used for military purposes, and • 2019: Saint Lucia
• Nuclear safety: Promoting high standards • 2020: Comoros
• 2021: Samoa
• 2022: Saint Kitts and
Nevis; Tonga
India since 1957
Submission of Application for Membership. Consideration by Board of Governors. (5 times a year)
Instrument of acceptance. Consideration by General Conference. (Annually)
Deposit to US
NOTE - Signature and ratification of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) are not preconditions
for membership in the IAEA.
India decided to place 14 out of 22 thermal power reactors under the
IAEA safeguards, as indicated in the ‘Separation Plan’ issued in
March 2006, as part of its commitments under the Indo-US nuclear
deal of July 2005.
Comprehensive safeguard agreement - 2009
Additional protocol - 2014 (INDIA with IAEA)
2005: India-US agree on civil nuclear deal ➢ 2005-2008:
US amended its Atomic Energy Act 1954
India separated civil and military nuclear facilities BUDDHI IAS ACADEMY
US convinced NSG to make exception for India.
➢ 2008: finally deal was signed (aka 123 agreement)
➢ Significance? India became the only non-NPT nuclear state that can do nuclear commerce.
➢ Later, in next few years, India signed deals for fuel, reactors, etc. with multiple countries.
PRELIMS 2018 PRELIMS 2020
Nuclear supplier group
ESTB - 1974, Operation Smiling Buddha or Pokhran-I Led to establishment of NSG
India is not a member (48)
Averting proliferation nuclear terrorism
not a formal organisation
its guidelines are not binding
Why India is not a member ?
Opposition from China
Decisions of membership is made by consensus
Non-NPT Country Cannot become a member
Indian Nuclear tests:
Wassenar
✗ agreement ✓ ✓ 1974: Smiling Buddha / Pokhran-1
✓ 1998: Operation Shakti-98 / Pokhran-II
CHINA ✓
Export ✗ What does NSG do ?
NSG Control MTCR _ Multilateral export control regime
Regime Group of nuclear supplier countries
✗ Prevent proliferation of nuclear weapons
✗ Australian ✓
Group
BUDDHI IAS ACADEMY
Is it important for India?
Increase India’s access to state of the art technology
Scaling nuclear power production is necessary to meet Paris climate agreement
Comprehensive bans all nuclear
Export of
Nuclear-Test- Ban explosions in all
nuclear
Treaty (CTBT) environments
materials
Treaty on the legally binding
Chemical or
Prohibition of nuclear instrument ,
biological
entered into
weapons 18
weapons (TPNW)
force in 2020
Missile equipment IND.
software and became prohibits testing of
:
tech. member Partial Test Ban nuclear weapons in
Treaty (PTBT), 1963 the atmosphere, in
Conventional outer space, under
arms and dual water, or in any area
use goods within a state’s
(example night territory that would
vision goggles) cause radioactive
fallout outside the
state's territory.
(To prevent) NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY Signed - 1968
In Force - 1970
(Increase in no.)
Recently in Sep. 2022 Tenth Non- Nuclear pro-liferation
Proliferation Treaty Review Confrence
spread of nuclear weapons to
was held without any conclusion.
non-nuclear weapon states.
BUDDHI IAS ACADEMY
NPT
Nuclear weapon
Signed Not Signed
states
Never acquire nuclear
weapons and will be India, Pakistan,
tested nuclear weapon Israel, North Korea,
held by P5 countries for
before1January1967(P5) South Sudan
development of nuclear
technology
Why India is not signing ?
Discriminatory (p5 members have nuclear weapons and they have not decided time limit to destroy)
threat perception (as our neighbour China,Pakistan is a nuclear weapon state and also other states
are developing it for their security purpose.)
India is in no hurry as after signing 2008 nuclear deal with US. We have access to state of the art
technology.
