Rosatom, Russia's nuclear company, has proposed technology transfer to India in the form of small modular reactors, which may be considered a significant boost to India's nuclear aspirations, according to a recent media report. Days after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the creation of the Nuclear Energy Mission in her Union Budget speech, as reported by the Economic Times.

India is planning to develop five Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) on its own, with an investment of ₹20,000 crore, as announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. According to the Budget speech, these reactors are expected to be operational by 2033. SMRs play a crucial role in India's goal of producing 100GW of nuclear energy. Unlike traditional nuclear reactors, they require much less fuel. Some SMRs, as reported by The Economic Times, can even operate for up to 30 years without needing refuelling. 

India has received offers for SMR technology transfer from multiple countries. While Russia has shown interest, the US and France are also looking to collaborate with Indian companies in this field. The Centre's decision to alter the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act of 2010 has been criticised by the opposition. “The FM announces that the Act will be amended to appease Mr Trump,” said Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh in a post on X. 

The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, was enacted on September 21, 2010, to ensure quick compensation for victims of nuclear disasters under a no-fault liability system. According to this law, the operator of a nuclear facility is solely responsible for any incident that occurs. The maximum liability for the operator is capped at ₹15 billion. If the total compensation exceeds this limit, the Government of India will cover the additional amount.