Rs 20k-Cr Nuclear Mission; Private Players To Join

New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday announced a slew of steps to boost atomic power in the country with a Rs 20,000-crore Nuclear mission, roping in private players by amending legal framework and development of five small modular reactors indigenously.

Presenting her record eighth consecutive Budget, Sitharaman also announced that all those states going ahead with power reforms would be eligible for additional borrowing equal to 0.5 per cent of their GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product).

She said, "Power sector reforms, we will incentivise electricity distribution reforms and augmentation of intra-state transmission capacity by states. This will improve the financial health and capacity of electricity companies. Additional borrowing of 0.5 per cent of GSDP will be allowed to states contingent on these reforms."