New Delhi, April 8 -- India has achieved a significant milestone in its nuclear energy journey, with the indigenously developed Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu attaining first criticality on April 6, 2026.
The 500 MWe reactor, built by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI) at the Kalpakkam Nuclear Complex, marks the initiation of a sustained nuclear chain reaction, signalling Indias formal entry into the second stage of its three-stage nuclear power programme.
The programme, conceptualised by Homi Jehangir Bhabha, aims to optimise the countrys limited uranium resources while leveraging its vast thorium reserves for long-term energy security.
Strategic and Global Significance
With this deve...