Parliamentary panel raises concern over lower allocation to DAE

New Delhi, Mar 25 (PTI) A parliamentary panel has voiced concern over the nearly Rs 6,000 crore cut in allocation to the Department of Atomic Energy against its demand of Rs 43,416 crore for the 2026 fiscal.

In its report, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, chaired by BJP member Bhubaneshwar Kalita, asked the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) for urgent action to restore its essential funding for nuclear research and ensure uninterrupted progress in India's nuclear energy and medical applications.

The DAE told the committee that it had sought a budgetary allocation of Rs 43,41.55 crore for 2025-26 but was allocated Rs 37,482.93 crore in the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1.

"The committee, therefore, strongly recommends immediate action to restore essential funding, support nuclear research, and ensure uninterrupted progress in India's nuclear energy and medical applications," according to the report, which was tabled in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

The DAE told the committee that the substantial reduction in budgetary allocation would slow down activities related to basic research and derail the progress achieved over the years, shaping up into technologies over a considerable period of time.

According to the report, while the DAE outlined strategies to mitigate the impact of budget shortfalls, the risks posed by inadequate funding remained significant.

"The committee, therefore, strongly recommends immediate action to restore essential funding, support nuclear research, and ensure uninterrupted progress in India's nuclear energy and medical applications," it said in the report.

The primary areas affected by the shortfall are research and development and the industry and mineral sectors while the power sector remains unchanged, it added.

"The committee recommends urgent restoration of at least Rs 5,933.62 crore, particularly for the research and development and the industry and mineral sectors, to ensure continued progress in nuclear technology development and fuel production," according to the report.

"The committee observes that the shortfall of Rs 3,289 crore would impact long-term research initiatives under BARC (Bhabha Atomic Research Centre), IGCAR (Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research), and RRCAT (Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology), slowing down innovations in nuclear reactor safety, radioactive waste management, and new reactor technologies," it further said.

Mega science projects, which include research on fusion energy and directed research, may also face delays, it added. PTI SKU SKU SZM SZM

Source: PTI