Modi, Trump’s Big Nuclear Push To Get More Atomic Reactors To India

With energy security on their minds, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump have affirmed their faith in atomic energy. After their talks at the White House on Thursday, they reinforced their commitment to work together on US-designed nuclear reactors in India “through large-scale localisation and possible technology transfer.”

Since 2008, when the landmark India-US Civilian Nuclear Deal was signed, there has been no headway in negotiations. No new American nuclear reactor ever made it to Indian soil in the 21st century. Seeking to end the stalemate, the leaders have now shown interest in not only building large reactors but also advanced small modular reactors in India.

A stumbling block has been India’s people-friendly nuclear liability regime, which has been a bugbear for American nuclear suppliers. Most global nuclear damage liability regimes are friendlier to commercial entities.

In their joint statement today, PM Modi and Trump welcomed Budget 2025 announcements to amend the Atomic Energy Act and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA) for nuclear reactors.

The statement said the two leaders also “decided to establish bilateral arrangements in accordance with CLNDA, that would address the issue of civil liability and facilitate the collaboration of Indian and US industry in the production and deployment of nuclear reactors.”

Interestingly, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) while in opposition in 2010 – when Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister – made sure that “people-friendly” provisions were incorporated into the CLNDA. Now, one will have to wait and see how the amendments are made which can reconcile both American and Indian interests.

The Indian government and Westinghouse have also been discussing a project to build six 1,000-MW nuclear reactors at Kovvada in Andhra Pradesh.

On the anvil are also the small and modular nuclear reactors that have gained traction in recent times. In his meeting with US Security Advisor Michael Waltz too, PM Modi discussed industrial cooperation and civil nuclear energy with an emphasis on small modular reactors.