India Urged to Revise Green Finance Rules to Unlock Nuclear Energy Funding: NITI Aayog Official

India needs to urgently reassess its green finance frameworks to support nuclear energy development and build a skilled workforce capable of achieving the nation’s goal of 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047, according to Abhay Karandikar, Member of NITI Aayog, who spoke at the Bharat Electricity 2026 event.

Karandikar emphasized that policy reforms and enhanced capacity-building initiatives are essential to attracting both domestic and international private investment into the nuclear sector.

He noted that existing instruments such as India’s sovereign green bond, the RBI’s green deposit framework, and Sebi’s green debt securities do not currently include nuclear energy, and recommended their revision to align with evolving global trends seen in institutions like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

Karandikar also stressed the pressing need for specialized education and training programs in nuclear sciences, mentioning that NITI Aayog has established a committee to develop a comprehensive roadmap for workforce development at all levels, recognizing talent as a cornerstone for sustainable growth in the sector.

At the same event, Nivruti Rai, Managing Director and CEO of Invest India, highlighted that India’s data center capacity is expected to expand from 1.7 GW today to 10 GW by 2032 — far exceeding global averages. She pointed out that alongside 725,000 tons of green hydrogen tenders and increasing digital and industrial energy demand, nuclear power will play a critical role in ensuring a stable and reliable energy supply.

“Reaching our 100 GW nuclear target by 2047 will hinge on accelerating indigenization efforts to cut costs by 30%, while bridging technological gaps in uranium enrichment and advancing small modular reactor technologies,” Rai said.

Ghanshyam Prasad, Chairman of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), reported that India added a record 64,000 MW of new generation capacity last year and aims for another 70,000 MW this year to meet surging demand from sectors like data centers and green hydrogen production.

“To realize the 100 GW nuclear vision, we must fast-track site selection, shorten regulatory approval timelines to under a decade, and strengthen our skilled human resources,” Prasad said.

Currently, India operates 25 nuclear reactors generating approximately 8.8 GW across seven locations. While ongoing projects and planned installations could raise this to around 22 GW by 2032, scaling up to 100 GW by 2047 will require significant advancements in technology integration, resilient supply chains, and novel financing mechanisms.

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