India Needs Green Finance, Skilled Workforce for 100 GW Nuclear

New Delhi, Sep 2 (PTI) India must urgently review its green finance frameworks and invest in developing a robust nuclear workforce to achieve its ambitious target of 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047, NITI Aayog Member Abhay Karandikar said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the NuclearX Inaugural Forum during Bharat Electricity 2026, Karandikar underscored that policy reforms and capacity building are critical to unlocking private and global investment in the nuclear sector.

India's sovereign green bond, RBI green deposit, and SEBI green debt securities frameworks currently exclude nuclear energy, Karandikar said while calling for their review to enable nuclear access to green finance, echoing global shifts by institutions like the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

He also highlighted the urgent need for specialised nuclear education and skills, adding that NITI Aayog has set up a committee to chart a roadmap for capacity building across all levels, as strong talent is essential for sustainable sectoral growth.

Nivruti Rai, MD & CEO of Invest India, commented that India's energy demand is set to surge as the data centre capacity alone is projected to grow from 1.7 GW today to 10 GW by 2032, over five times the increase, outpacing global trends.

Organised by The Energy & Climate Initiatives Society (ENCIS), Bharat Electricity, POWERGEN India & Indian Utility Week 2026 brought together over 15,000 professionals, 250 exhibitors, and 150 global thought leaders from 40 countries.


Ghanshyam Prasad, Chairperson, Central Electricity Authority, said that for nuclear, accelerating site identification, streamlining regulatory approvals to under 10 years, and building skilled manpower are crucial to achieving our 100 GW vision.

India currently operates 25 nuclear reactors with a combined capacity of about 8.8 GW across seven sites.

With projects underway and new reactors planned, capacity is projected to reach nearly 22 GW by 2032.

However, the path to 100 GW by 2047 will demand a broad spectrum of advanced technologies, robust supply chains, and innovative financing and deployment models.

Rakesh Sood, Distinguished Fellow, Council for Strategic and Defense Research, remarked that the path ahead demands both technological leadership and broad-based public acceptance to truly power a developed, climate-resilient Bharat. PTI KKS

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