- Eminent physicist and former Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), Rajagopala Chidambaram, passed away.
- Key architect of India’s nuclear programme and played a crucial role in nuclear tests.
Key Contributions of Dr. Rajagopala Chidambaram
- Scientific Achievements:
- Solved the “equation of state” for plutonium (1967), advancing nuclear fission and materials science.
- Led India’s indigenous supercomputer development.
- Leadership in Nuclear Tests:
- Smiling Buddha (1974) – India’s first nuclear test.
- Operation Shakti (1998) – Pokhran-II nuclear tests.
- Key Positions:
- Director of BARC, Chairman of AEC, Chairman of IAEA Board of Governors.
- Principal Scientific Advisor (2002-2018) – Led RuTAG & National Knowledge Network (NKN).
- Awards:
- Padma Shri (1975) and Padma Vibhushan (1999) for contributions to science.
India’s 3-Stage Nuclear Power Programme
- Designed for long-term energy security and efficient use of nuclear resources.
- Proposed by Homi Bhabha to harness limited uranium and abundant thorium reserves.
Stages of the Programme
| Stage | Objective | Fuel/Moderator | Reactor Type | Current Status |
| Stage 1 | Generate electricity while producing plutonium-239 (Pu-239) as a byproduct. | Fuel: Uranium-238 (U-238) Moderator: Heavy Water (D₂O) | Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) | 18 PHWRs operational in India. |
| Stage 2 | Reactors (FBRs) to convert U-238 into Pu-239, ensuring sustainable fuel supply. | Fuel: Mixed Oxide of Pu-239 & U-238 | Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) | Prototype FBR at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, under development. |
| Stage 3 | Utilize Thorium-232 to produce Uranium-233, ensuring long-term energy security. | Fuel: Thorium-232 (converted into U-233) | Thorium-Based Reactors (AHWR) | Research ongoing; AHWR in development. |
India’s Nuclear Weapons Programme
- Smiling Buddha (1974):
- India’s first nuclear test at Pokhran, Rajasthan.
- Made India the sixth nuclear-capable nation after USA, USSR, UK, France, and China.
- Operation Shakti (1998):
- Series of five nuclear tests under Pokhran-II.
- Included thermonuclear bomb testing, demonstrating advanced nuclear capability.
Dr. Chidambaram’s contributions were pivotal in making India a nuclear power. India’s three-stage nuclear programme aims to achieve energy self-sufficiency using thorium. Nuclear tests in 1974 & 1998 established India’s strategic and scientific prowess.
