Union Minister Jitendra Singh has said nuclear energy will play an increasingly important role in meeting India's growing electricity requirements, particularly as artificial intelligence (AI) applications and data centres drive demand for reliable and uninterrupted power.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Bloomberg Economy Forum 2026 in New Delhi, Singh linked the expansion of nuclear power to India's broader technology ambitions and long-term energy commitments, including the target of achieving 100 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power capacity by 2047.
The Minister said the increasing deployment of AI and expansion of data centre infrastructure would require dependable electricity supplies to support computational workloads and digital operations. Nuclear energy, he noted, could complement other energy sources by providing continuous power generation.
His remarks come as India seeks to strengthen its AI infrastructure while addressing the electricity requirements associated with large-scale computing facilities. Data centres supporting AI applications require sustained power availability for computing equipment, cooling systems and related infrastructure.
Singh reiterated that India's nuclear programme remains focused on peaceful applications and national development. Referring to Dr. Homi Bhabha, the architect of the country's nuclear programme, he said the original vision of using nuclear technology for developmental purposes continued to guide its expansion.
The Minister also connected nuclear energy development with India's commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. He said nuclear power would form part of the country's broader energy mix as electricity demand increases across technology-intensive sectors.
India's nuclear expansion plans include the development of indigenous Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), with the government targeting at least five operational indigenous reactors by 2033 under the Nuclear Energy Mission.
The programme forms part of the government's roadmap to expand domestic nuclear generation capacity and support longer-term energy security objectives.
Addressing the role of artificial intelligence beyond infrastructure, Singh described AI as a technology with applications across multiple sectors, including space research and life sciences.
“One has to be intelligent enough to use Artificial Intelligence,” he said, emphasising the continued importance of human judgement in technology deployment.
Singh also acknowledged concerns surrounding the potential misuse of AI. While regulatory measures remain important, he said responsible adoption would depend on individual and institutional integrity.
The Minister highlighted the government's efforts to increase participation by non-government entities in sectors traditionally dominated by public institutions, including nuclear energy and other strategic technologies.
According to Singh, wider private-sector involvement could support innovation, technology development and the expansion of domestic capabilities.
His comments place electricity availability alongside computing infrastructure and responsible AI deployment as considerations in India's technology development plans.
While the Minister outlined the potential role of nuclear energy in supporting AI-driven growth, no specific nuclear-powered data centre project or dedicated electricity allocation for AI infrastructure was announced during the remarks.
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