With growing energy needs should India keep on extending its nuclear energy programme? Discuss the facts and fears associated with nuclear energy. (250 words)

Nuclear power is a low-carbon, high-energy-density source that can provide firm electricity, but expansion must be judged against safety, cost, waste and institutional credibility.

• Reactors generate dependable baseload electricity with very low operational greenhouse-gas emissions and limited land use.
• Nuclear power can complement variable solar and wind, reduce coal dependence and improve energy security when fuel supply and technology are diversified.
• India’s three-stage programme, domestic heavy-water reactor experience and thorium ambition offer long-term strategic value, though commercial timelines are lengthy.

• Rare but catastrophic accidents can cause long-lived contamination, displacement and public distrust, as highlighted by Chernobyl and Fukushima.
• Spent fuel, radioactive waste, decommissioning, water use, imported technology costs and construction delays pose intergenerational and fiscal risks.
• Proliferation, security threats and emergency preparedness require stringent safeguards and independent oversight.
• Public acceptance may be weakened by opaque decision-making, emergency evacuation limitations and unresolved liability questions.
• Public acceptance may be weakened by opaque decision-making, emergency evacuation limitations and unresolved liability questions, especially near densely populated sites.

India should continue a carefully regulated programme rather than treat nuclear power as an unlimited solution. Site-specific environmental assessment, transparent risk communication, robust liability and safety institutions, passive safety, emergency drills and secure waste repositories are essential. Renewables, storage, efficiency and grid reform should receive parallel priority.

Keywords: low-carbon baseload, energy density, three-stage programme, nuclear safety, radioactive waste, decommissioning, liability, proliferation, energy mix.