India is about to take a serious step in increasing its nuclear power programme, with plans to ask bids for the institution of a 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200), throughout the subsequent three to 6 months. The challenge is taken into account as a serious a part of the nation’s clear power transition, officers informed ET.International corporations will likely be allowed to take part within the bidding course of, however solely by means of tie-ups with native companions, an official mentioned. The reactor design will likely be standardised, and the primary unit is predicted to function a mannequin for future installations.“A price of roughly Rs 30 crore per megawatt (MW) has been authorized for BSMR-200 as a pilot challenge,” one other official informed the monetary each day.The BSMR-200 is being collectively developed by the Bhabha Atomic Analysis Centre (BARC) and the Nuclear Energy Company of India Ltd (NPCIL). The whole value of improvement and building is estimated at round Rs 5,960 crore, to be funded by means of the Nuclear Power Mission. After approvals, the development is predicted to take wherever between 60 and 72 months.Officers mentioned that inter-ministerial consultations are at the moment underway to finalise the bidding particulars.The transfer follows the opening up of the nuclear sector to personal funding after the enactment of the Sustainable Harnessing and Development of Nuclear Power for Reworking India (SHANTI) Act in December 2025.“A closing name on the proposal will likely be taken by the Cupboard Committee on Financial Affairs,” the official mentioned, including that home companies able to executing the challenge on an engineering, procurement and building (EPC) foundation have already been recognized.The Union Funds had already alloted Rs 20,000 crore to develop not less than 5 indigenously designed and operational small modular reactors by 2033 underneath the Nuclear Power Mission.India has additionally set an formidable objective of reaching 100 GW of nuclear energy capability by 2047, alongside efforts to strengthen native manufacturing and know-how improvement within the sector.In a latest milestone for the nuclear programme, India’s prototype quick breeder reactor reached criticality this month.