New Delhi, April 28 -- Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh today said that after Russia, India will be the second country in the world operating a commercial-level fast breeder reactor. Addressing a workshop of MPs and MLAs, on "Small Modular Reactors" the Minister elaborated that India has achieved a significant milestone by developing an indigenously designed 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, which achieved first criticality on April 6, 2026.

Developed by the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) and built by BHAVINI, this reactor marks the start of the second stage of India's three-stage nuclear power program, using uranium-plutonium mixed oxide fuel to produce more fuel than it consumes. ...