Jitendra Singh reaffirms peaceful nuclear vision with 100 GW target by 2047

India’s nuclear programme remains firmly anchored in peaceful development and national progress, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh stated at the Bloomberg Economy Forum 2026, setting out plans to scale nuclear generation capacity to 100 gigawatts by 2047.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Dr Singh, who holds the Atomic Energy portfolio, explained that expanding nuclear power is critical to securing continuous, uninterrupted clean electricity for India’s rapidly growing technological sector. The minister highlighted that high-density computing needs, particularly for artificial intelligence (AI) networks and massive data centres, will depend heavily on stable baseload power that atomic generation provides.

Reaffirming the founding principles laid down by Dr Homi Bhabha, the architect of the country's atomic programme, Dr Singh noted that India has consistently directed nuclear research and energy towards societal benefit and industrial growth rather than military application.

Clean energy goals and technological integration

To meet national growth objectives and sustain long-term environmental commitments, India has set a roadmap that pairs immediate industrial expansion with deep decarbonisation. Nuclear energy is expected to work in tandem with renewable energy sources to provide reliable round-the-clock power.

Dr Singh pointed out that artificial intelligence should be viewed not as a standalone domain, but as a cross-cutting instrument applicable across space research, life sciences, and broader technological development. However, he stressed the essential role of human oversight in deploying AI responsibly, remarking that "one has to be intelligent enough to use Artificial Intelligence."

While regulatory frameworks are already operational, the minister emphasised that personal and national integrity remain the fundamental safeguards against technology misuse. India’s approach to technology governance, he noted, reflects concerted efforts made under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to foster ethical and effective innovation.

Reforms and private sector participation

A central element of India’s updated energy and technology strategy is the systematic opening of strategic, non-military sectors to private industry. The Modi government has dismantled long-standing operational restrictions, allowing non-government entities to participate in critical research and infrastructure projects.

According to Dr Singh, bringing private enterprise into strategic domains broadens the capital and technical base required for rapid technological advancement. This policy shift gives domestic industry direct involvement in building high-capacity infrastructure, accelerating the delivery of national development targets and establishing India as a resilient economic power.

As India works towards its 2047 centennial independence goals and its 2070 net-zero targets, maintaining robust baseline energy capacity alongside open, well-regulated technological ecosystems will remain a cornerstone of national governance.