New Delhi, May 24 -- At a time when the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict is disrupting global energy shipping routes and adding uncertainty to international oil markets, India has quietly achieved a major strategic breakthrough in nuclear energy.

On April 6, 2026, India's 500 MWe (Megawatt electric) Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, achieved "first criticality" - the point at which a controlled nuclear chain reaction becomes self-sustaining. The achievement marks India's entry into the second stage of its ambitious three-stage nuclear power programme and places the country among the global leaders in advanced breeder reactor technology.

Completed in March 2024, the reactor reached criticality just 13 months ...