Atomic energy has been considered beneficial in the sectors of Agriculture, Food  Preservation, Defence & Security, Healthcare, Water Treatment etc., besides meeting  the energy demand of the nation. Major contributions of atomic energy in various  fields are mentioned below:

Nuclear Agriculture:

Radiation induced mutagenesis and cross breeding have enabled development of 71  new crop varieties including rice, pulses, oilseeds, jute, sorghum, wheat etc. for  commercial cultivation. These varieties developed by Bhabha Atomic Research  Centre (BARC) a constituent Unit of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) have  attributes like high-yield, early maturity, biotic & abiotic stress-tolerant, climate resilience etc. These varieties are being cultivated across the country, providing  economic benefits to the farmer community.

The Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT), an industrial unit of DAE  produces and supplies Co-60 based sealed radiation sources for radiation processing  of food and agricultural products.

Food Preservation:

Radiation processing has been effectively used to extend the shelf life of agricultural  produce, fish and spices. The shelf-life extension of mangoes up to 35 days has  enabled cost effective export of mangoes by sea route. The shelf-life extension of  onion & potatoes up to 7.5 months and 8 months respectively reduces the spoilage  and economically beneficial to the farmers. The radiation processing of various food  items is also approved by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). 

Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT) a constituent Unit of DAE has also developed 10 MeV, 10 kW food irradiation linac useful for setting up food  irradiation facilities within the country. Technology of the food irradiation linac is  available to the Indian industries and institutes. 

Sheetal Vahak Yantra - “SHIVAY” Technology” has been developed for  transportation of fruits and vegetables under combination of controlled Temperature,  Humidity and inert atmosphere to maintain freshness during transportation. The  technology is patented in India and China. The technology uses liquid nitrogen for  refrigeration source. Therefore, it is economic, 100% eco-friendly with no  consumption of diesel or electricity for cooling. The technology has been transferred  to M/s Tata Motors, Pune under incubation mode and to M/s Furmech, Indore for  development of standalone liquid nitrogen based refrigerated containers. 

“MATSYA” system, which is derived from “SHIVAY” technology, is developed for  transportation of fisheries. The system is installed on Sagar Harita, fishing vessel of  Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), Kochi for trials of storage of fresh  catch of fish in controlled temperature, controlled humidity and inert atmosphere for  freshness.

Defence & Security:

BARC has indigenously developed a spin-off technology of lightweight and cost  effective Bhabha Kavach, a bullet-proof jacket qualified for threat level III+ [Bureau  of Indian Standards (BIS) Level 5 protection], now in use by Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and Indian Army. The technology has  been successfully transferred to Indian companies for commercialisation. Indigenous  Cargo Container Scanner system has been successfully designed, developed &  demonstrated. This import substitute technology is available for field trials and  subsequent deployment. 

Healthcare:

In BARC Radio isotopes for health care are produced either through research reactors  or separation of useful isotopes from processing of spent nuclear fuel. BARC has  indigenously developed import substitute & cost-effective Ruthenium-106 (Ru-106) eye plaques for treatment of eye cancer. These plaques are produced from Ru-106  extracted from nuclear waste. Other useful radio-isotopes extracted from the nuclear  waste is Strontium-90 (Sr-90) and Caesium-137 (Cs-137) for production of Yttrium 90 (Y-90) for cancer treatment and Cs glass pencil for blood irradiator. BARC also  produces several radioisotopes like Iodine-125 (I-125), Iodine-131 (I-131), Lutetium 177 (Lu-177), and Samarium (Sm-153), for radio-pharmaceuticals and supplies to  various hospitals through BRIT for cancer diagnostic and therapeutic applications. 

Radio-isotope Production: The indigenous production of Strontium-89 (Sr-89) is an  important societal need and a valuable import substitution; it is a pure beta emitter  with a half-life of 50.5 days and used for palliative care of bone metastatic cancer.  Production of Sr-89 with high specific activity at Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR),  Kalpakkam was successfully demonstrated. The product satisfied all the Quality  Control Parameters as per the US, European and International Pharmacopeia. Bio distribution study has been completed. This technology ensures increased availability  and complete import substitution.

The radioisotopes produced at Medical Cyclotron Facility (MCF) are used for cancer  diagnostics and therapy. The radioisotopes/radiopharmaceuticals, produced in  collaboration with BRIT, are supplied to various hospitals/Nuclear Medicine Centres,  on regular basis, which have reduced the cost of treatment of common man.

Linac for irradiation: RRCAT has indigenously developed 10 MeV industrial electron  linacs, process technology and electron beam radiation processing facility for terminal  sterilization of medical device. First of its kind facility in the country, this is operating  in commercial mode at Indore with Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and  Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licenses and is regularly providing electron  beam processing services for terminal sterilization of regulated medical devices. Since  starting operations in year 2021, the facility has provided electron beam services for  sterilization of more than 1 Crore medical devices for various medical devices  industries.

BRIT remains the major producer and supplier of diagnostic and therapeutic  radiopharmaceuticals for early diagnosis of diseases and for cancer treatment.

Water Treatment:

Another spin-off technology of radiation-grafted cotton cloth-based matrix has been  developed for effective treatment of textile/ dye effluents for removal of dye. The  filtered water can be re-used for industrial purposes. This innovation offers a low cost, efficient solution for environmental protection. The technology is transferred to  private entrepreneur for commercialisation.

Nuclear Power: 

Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) generated about 56681 Million Units (MUs) of clean  electricity, contributing to about 3% of the total electricity generated in the country  and saved about 49 Million Tons of CO2(e) emissions into the environment. The  average tariff of electricity from nuclear power plants during the year 2024-25 was Rs  3.83 per unit.

Other such significant contributions in various fields:

U-233 fuelled Kalpakkam Mini Reactor (KAMINI) is continuing its successful  operation for neutron radiography of critical components for the nuclear and strategic  sectors, neutron shielding and neutron activation of materials. This facility is also  utilized for conducting neutron beam experiments. The pyro devices used in the space  programme were routinely tested in KAMINI. 

BRIT manufactures and supplies Iridium-192 (Ir-192) radiography exposure devices  to industry and provides isotope application services to the petrochemical and other  industries for troubleshooting the issues encountered.

 

Nuclear radiation is used to develop improved crop varieties suitable for  different agro-ecologies of the country. These varieties exhibit higher yield compared  to existing check varieties. These varieties also have better nutritional quality or  resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Farmers in several states have experienced  enhanced crop productivity by cultivating these improved varieties which in turn is helpful for improving farm income. Crop losses due to soil borne diseases can be  minimised by using gamma ray-induced Trichoderma mutant strain.

The radiation technology for food preservation is being commercially used across the  country. Today there are 28 food irradiation facilities operational in the country, out  of which 22 are owned by the private players.

In Uttar Pradesh, a radiation facility, M/s. Solas Industries Private Limited, Kosi  Kalan, Mathura is operational for food preservation since 2021. One more irradiation  facility is under construction in Lucknow by M/s. Q-Line Health Care Private  Limited.

BRIT helps Private/State Government Sectors in setting up gamma radiation  processing facilities for food irradiation & medical devices sterilization by providing  necessary technical inputs & supplying Co-60 sources. Till date, 39 such facilities  have been commissioned in the country. Two such facilities have been commissioned  in private sector in the state of Uttar Pradesh and they are providing radiation  processing services on demand basis. 

DAE has been involved in the use of radiations and radioisotopes in agricultural  production through continuous R&D programmes. These programmes are being  conducted in collaboration with various Agricultural Universities in different states  and research institutes of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Further,  department has planned many more MoUs with existing and new state agricultural  universities and other research organizations towards application of atomic energy in  agriculture for societal benefit. 

DAE helps Private/State Government Sectors in setting up gamma radiation  processing facilities for food irradiation & medical devices sterilization by providing  necessary technical inputs & supplying Co-60 sources.

This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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NKR/PSM

(Release ID: 2147280)