Landmarks in India’s Nuclear Energy

1. March 12, 1844: Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhaba writes to Sri Dorabji Tata Trust for starting Nuclear Research in India.

2. Dec. 19, 1945: Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay is inaugurated.

3. Aug. 10, 1948: Rare Atomic Energy, Commission is constituted.

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4. July. 29, 1949: Rare Minerals Survey Unit is set up. Later, this unit became Atomic Minerals Division.

5. Aug. 18, 1950: Indian Rare Earths Limited is set up for recovering minerals, processing for rare earth compounds and thorium— Uranium concentrates.

6. Aug. 03, 1954: Department of Atomic Energy is created.

7. Aug. 04, 1956: APSRA— the first Research REactor in Asia, attains criticality at Tomboy. Bombay.

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8. Jan. 20, 1957: Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurates Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay.

9. Aug. 19, 1957: Atomic Energy Establishment Training School starts functioning.

10. Jan. 30, 1959: Uranium Metal Plant at Trombay produces Uranium.

11. July 10, 1960:40 MWt Research Reactor CIRUS attains criticality.

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12. Jan. 14, 1961: Research. Reactor ZERLINA attains criticality. Zerlina was decommissioned in 1983.

13. Jan. 22, 1965: Plutonium Plant inaugurated.

14. Jan. 22, 1967: Atomic Energy Establishment is renamed as Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.

15. Apr. 11, 1967: Electronics Corporation of India Limited is set up at Hyderabad for producing electronic systems, instruments and components.

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16. Oct. 04, 1967: Uranium Corporation of India Limited is set up at Jaduguda, Bihar for mining and milling of uranium ores.

17. Dec. 31, 1968: Nuclear Fuel Complex is set up at Hyderabad.

18. Mar. 12, 1969: Reactor Research Centre is started at Kalpakkam, renamed as Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research on December 18, 1985.

19. May. 01, 1969: Heavy Water Projects is constituted. Later, this unit became Heavy Water Board.

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20. Oct. 02, 1969: Tarapur Atomic Power Station starts commercial operation.

21. May. 18, 1972: PURNIMA-1 attains criticality. In later version PURNIMA-11 reactor becomes critical on May 10, 1984.

22. Nov. 30, 1972: Rajasthan Atomic Power Station- Unit I at Kota begins commercial operation. Unit- II went commercial on November 1, 1980.

23. May. 18, 1974: Peaceful underground Nuclear Experiment is conducted at Pokhran, Rajasthan.

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24. Jun. 16, 1977: Variable Energy Cyclotron becomes operational at Calcutta.

25. Nov. 19, 1982: Power Reactor Fuel Reprocessing Plant at Tarapur is commissioned.

26. Feb. 19, 1983: Atomic Energy Regulatory Board is constituted.

27. Jan. 27, 1984: Madras Atomic Power Station- Unit I at Kalpakkam starts commercial operation. Unit-II went commercial on March 21, 1986.

28. Feb. 19, 1984: Centre for Advanced Technology at Indore is inaugurated.

29. Mar. 08, 1984: Plutonium-Uranium mixed Carbide Fuel for fast breeder test reactor is fabricated in BARC.

30. Mar. 04, 1985: Waste Immobilization Plant at Tarapur is commissioned.

31. Aug. 08, 1985: Fifth Research Reactor DHURVA (100 MWt) attains criticality.

32. Oct. 18, 1985: Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) at Kalpakkam attains criticality.

33. Dec. 30, 1988: 14 MV Pelletron Accelerator is inaugurated.

34. Mar. 12, 1989: Narora Atomic Power Station- Unit I attains criticality.

35. Oct. 24, 1991: Narora Atonics Power Station – Unit II attains criticality.

36. Sep. 03, 1992: Kakrapar Atomic Power Station – Unit I attains criticality.

37: Aug 12, 1993: Technology Offer Centre inaugurated at DAE, Bombay.

38. Jan. 08, 1995: Karkapar Atomic Power Station- Unit II attains criticality.

39. Oct. 29, 1996: KAMINI-a 30 KW research reactor becomes operational.