India plans to increase the Indian contribution of atomic energy to 25 per cent of the total power capacity in future, and efforts are geared at using nuclear energy for basic sciences, astronomy, astrophysics, cancer research and education.
Nuclear energy is the fifth-largest source of electricity for India and is an essential component of its energy security and environmental protection, according to India’s High Commissioner, Shri Kumar Sahu.
The exhibition, entitled “Atomic Energy of India: A Glorious past, A Resplendent Future,” runs for three months at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Cultural Cooperation (MGICC) at Mt Hope from February 17, 2022. Shri Sahu recalled that India is one of the world’s oldest civilizations, with a long and rich cultural tradition, and a powerhouse of abstraction, philosophy, Mathematics and science. “For instance, in the 5th and 6th centuries, Aryabhata, Varahamihira and Brahmagupta were leading world astronomers. Carrying this tradition of scientific knowledge, India has approached the nuclear sector for the welfare of the people. India has over 23 nuclear reactors in seven power plants, producing 6,780 MW of nuclear power while reducing its contribution to Global Green House Gases (GHG). I have no doubts that the Indian scientists would use atomic energy for constructive electricity to generate using indigenously developed nuclear reactors,” said the High Commissioner.
As early as 1901, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) recognized India’s potential as a source of radioactive ores, including pitchblende, uranium and thorianite.
During the 1920 and 1930s, India kept abreast of the latest developments in physics. Notable physicists, including Daulat Singh Kothari, Meghnad Saha began to conduct nuclear research. Homi J. Bhabha and R.S. Krishnan, concluded pioneering research in nuclear physics. By 1939, Meghnad Saha began to conduct experiments in Mumbai. As early as June 1946, the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research was inaugurated.
As early as June 1946, Jawaharlal Nehru announced that he had no doubts that the Indian scientists would use the atomic force for constructive purposes. Today, perhaps, India is the only developing country to generate electricity using indigenously developed nuclear reactors.
Shri Sahu noted that nuclear energy is the fifth largest source of electricity for India, and is an essential component of its energy security and environmental protection.
He noted that India is the only country that is not a party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), but is still allowed to carry out nuclear commerce with the rest of the world, and this demonstrates the trust of the global community in India’s program. The diplomat hopes that academics, students, researchers and the media will take advantage of the exhibition.