India's Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) achieved significant milestones at the Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (RAPP) in January 2026. RAPP-7, a 700 MW indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) located at Rawatbhata, Rajasthan, was successfully operating at 90% of its full rated power since December 29, 2025, following regulatory clearance. RAPP-7 had achieved first criticality in September 2024 and was connected to the Northern Regional Grid in March 2025. It subsequently achieved its full rated power of 700 MW on February 10, 2026, at 05:15 hrs — the first of India's sixteen planned 700 MW indigenous PHWRs to reach this milestone. Concurrently, RAPP-8 — the paired unit under construction — completed a critical commissioning milestone with the successful completion of its Primary Heat Transport (PHT) System Hot Conditioning on January 5, 2026. The RAPP site at Rawatbhata, Chittorgarh district, now houses 8 units (Units 1–8), making it India's largest nuclear power complex at a single site. These developments are significant for India's target of achieving 100 GW of nuclear power by 2047 under Viksit Bharat. The 700 MW PHWR design is entirely indigenous and marks India's technological self-reliance in nuclear power, reducing dependence on imported reactor technology. RAPP contributes to Rajasthan's electricity supply and the Northern Regional Grid.
NPCIL Achieves Key Milestones at Rajasthan Atomic Power Project: RAPP-7 at 90% Full Power, RAPP-8 PHT Conditioning Complete
India's Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) achieved significant milestones at the Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (RAPP) in January 2026. RAPP-7, a 700 MW indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) located at Rawatbhata, Rajasthan, was successfully operating at 90% of its full rated power since December 29, 2025, following regulatory clearance. RAPP-7 had achieved first criticality in September 2024 and was connected to the Northern Regional Grid in March 2025. It subsequently achieved its full rated power of 700 MW on February 10, 2026, at 05:15 hrs — the first of India's sixteen planned 700 MW indigenous PHWRs to reach this milestone. Concurrently, RAPP-8 — the paired unit under construction — completed a critical commissioning milestone with the successful completion of its Primary Heat Transport (PHT) System Hot Conditioning on January 5, 2026. The RAPP site at Rawatbhata, Chittorgarh district, now houses 8 units (Units 1–8), making it India's largest nuclear power complex at a single site. These developments are significant for India's target of achieving 100 GW of nuclear power by 2047 under Viksit Bharat. The 700 MW PHWR design is entirely indigenous and marks India's technological self-reliance in nuclear power, reducing dependence on imported reactor technology. RAPP contributes to Rajasthan's electricity supply and the Northern Regional Grid.
Key facts
- RAPP-7 at Rawatbhata, Rajasthan, reached 90% of full rated power on December 29, 2025.
- RAPP-7 is a 700 MW indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor developed by NPCIL.
- It achieved first criticality in September 2024 and connected to the Northern Regional Grid in March 2025.
- RAPP-7 reached full 700 MW rated power on February 10, 2026.
- RAPP-8 completed its Primary Heat Transport system conditioning, a pre-commissioning milestone.
- These milestones mark India's growing indigenous nuclear power generation capabilities.
PYQPrelims/PYQ angle
- RAS 2024 Government's futuristic roadmap for nuclear energy sector — Union Budget 2025-26 — The article details NPCIL's RAPP-7 reaching full 700 MW power and the 100 GW-by-2047 nuclear goal, directly echoing the RAS 2024 question on India's Budget-announced nuclear energy roadmap.
Mains angle
Q: Discuss the strategic significance of NPCIL's 700 MW indigenous PHWR milestones at Rajasthan Atomic Power Project for India's 100 GW-by-2047 nuclear target and technological self-reliance under Viksit Bharat.
Answer (50 words):
NPCIL's RAPP-7 at Rawatbhata, Chittorgarh — a 700 MW indigenous PHWR — reached full rated power on 10 February 2026 at 05:15 hrs, becoming the first of sixteen planned 700 MW PHWRs to hit this milestone. RAPP-8 completed PHT Hot Conditioning on 5 January 2026, advancing India's 100 GW-by-2047 nuclear target.
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What is the rated power capacity of RAPP-7, the indigenous reactor operating at 90 percent full power at the Rajasthan Atomic Power Project?
RAPP-7 is a 700 MW indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) located at Rawatbhata, Rajasthan. It was operating at 90 percent of its full rated power since December 29, 2025, and later reached full 700 MW rated power on February 10, 2026.
Source: PSU Connect / World Nuclear News / Nucnet / EPR Magazine / PIB / NPCIL
Frequently asked questions
What is RAPP-7 and where is it located?
RAPP-7 is a 700 MW indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) developed by NPCIL, located at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan. It is part of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (RAPP) and is the first unit of a 700 MW design indigenously built by India.
What milestones did RAPP-7 achieve in 2024–2026?
RAPP-7 achieved first criticality in September 2024, was connected to the Northern Regional Grid in March 2025, reached 90% of full rated power on December 29, 2025, and finally achieved its full 700 MW rated power on February 10, 2026.
What is a Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) and why does India use it?
A PHWR uses heavy water (deuterium oxide) as both moderator and coolant, allowing it to use natural uranium as fuel without enrichment. India favours this design because it can be built with indigenous technology and uses domestically available uranium and thorium resources.
What is PHT system conditioning and why is it significant for RAPP-8?
PHT (Primary Heat Transport) system conditioning is a pre-commissioning process where the reactor's primary coolant circuit is cleaned and prepared for nuclear operation. RAPP-8 completing this step is a critical milestone indicating it is approaching the readiness stage for first criticality.
What is the significance of RAPP milestones for India's nuclear energy goals?
RAPP-7 and RAPP-8 are part of India's strategy to expand its indigenous nuclear fleet, aiming to increase nuclear power capacity from about 7,500 MW to 22,480 MW by 2031–32. These milestones demonstrate India's growing capability in designing, building, and operating large indigenous reactors.
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