NEW DELHI, April 9 -- India took a major step towards nuclear fuel self-reliance when its indigenously developed Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu attained criticality on 6 April. This is the stage when a nuclear chain reaction can sustain itself.

This will enable India to leverage its vast reserves of thorium and reduce dependence on uranium imports. Once the reactor is fully operational, India will become the second country after Russia to have a commercial fast breeder reactor.

Mint looks at the significance of the development as India aims to achieve 100GW of installed nuclear power capacity by 2047.

A fast breeder reactor is one that produces more fuel than it consumes while generating power. India's...