MargDarshan By

IITians

Click here to join PSU

Interview Prep Group

Click here to join GATE 24

IISC Prep Group
 Government Of India

Department of Atomic Energy

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) was
established in 1948 by the visionary Indian Nuclear scientist, Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha, who envisioned it as the
hub for the development of nuclear science and technology and their applications. According to the Atomic Energy
Commission Resolution, the Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Atomic Energy is ex-officio
Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. https://dae.gov.in

DAE is engaged in the development of nuclear power technology, applications of radiation technologies in
the fields of agriculture, medicine, industry and basic research. DAE comprises research centers, industrial
organizations, public sector undertakings and service organizations. It has under its aegis two boards for promoting
and funding extra-mural research in nuclear and allied fields, mathematics and a national institute (deemed
university).It also supports eight institutes of international repute engaged in research in basic sciences, astronomy,
astrophysics, cancer research and education. It also has in its fold an educational society that provides educational
facilities for children of DAE employees.

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) - https://www.barc.gov.in

BARC is the mother of other DAE R&D institutions such as IGCAR, RRCAT, VECC & AMD. BARC, located in
Mumbai, is a multi-disciplinary research centre with extensive infrastructure for advanced research and
development covering the entire spectrum of
nuclear science, chemical engineering, material
sciences and metallurgy, electronics,
instrumentation, biology and medicine,
supercomputing, high-energy physics, plasma
physics and associated research for Indian nuclear
program.

BARC's core mandate is to sustain peaceful

applications of nuclear energy. It manages all facets
of nuclear power generation, from the theoretical
design of reactors to computer modeling and
simulation, risk analysis, development and testing of
new reactor fuel, materials, etc. BARC has active groups for Research and Development in Reactor Technologies,
Fuel reprocessing and waste management, Isotope Applications, Radiation Technologies and their applications to
health, agriculture and environment, Accelerator and Laser Technology, Electronics, instrumentation and reactor
control and Materials Science. Strong emphasis on basic and applied research in a number of core disciplines of
Science has paved way for synergy between basic research and technology development possible.

Indira Gandhi Centre for Advanced Research (IGCAR) - https://www.igcar.gov.in

IGCAR is the second largest establishment of DAE, next to BARC, located at Kalpakkam, 80 km south of Chennai.It
was established in 1971 as an exclusive centre dedicated to the pursuit of fast reactor science and technology, due to
the vision of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai. The centre is engaged in broad-
based multidisciplinary program of scientific research and
advanced engineering directed towards the development of Fast
Breeder Reactor technology in India. This is part of the second
stage of Indian Atomic Energy Programme, which is aimed at
preparing the country for utilization of the extensive Thorium
reserves and providing means to meet the large demands of
electrical energy.

Apart from thrust areas related to nuclear technology,

the Centre has credentials as a leader of research in various frontier and topical subjects like Quasi crystals, Oxide
superconductors, Nano-structures, clusters, Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) fabrication
programs, exopolymers and experimental simulation of condensed matter using colloids etc., IGCAR has extended
its expertise and facilities to other vital sectors as Defence, Space and other industries of India to develop techniques
for reliable solutions to specialized problems.

Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT) - https://www.rrcat.gov.in

RRCAT is a unit of DAE and focuses on R & D in
non-nuclear frontline research areas of Lasers, Particle
Accelerators & related technologies.The RRCAT campus
is spread over a 760 hectare picturesque site on the
outskirts of Indore city.The Centre has indigenously
designed, developed, and commissioned two
synchrotron radiation sources: Indus-1 and Indus-2,
serving as a national facility.The Centre is also involved
in development of a variety of laser systems and their
utilization for applications in industry, medicine and
research.

Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC) - https://www.vecc.gov.in

Based in Kolkata, VECC is a R & D unit of DAE and one of the constituent institutions of Homi Bhabha
National Institute. This Centre is dedicated to carry out frontier research and development in the fields of
Accelerator Science & Technology, Nuclear Science (Theoretical and Experimental), Material Science, Computer
Science & Technology and in other relevant areas.VECC has 3 Cyclotrons – K130 Cyclotron operating since 1977,
K500 Superconducting Cyclotron under upgradation and a 30 MeV H-medical cyclotron which is at the installation
stage.The Centre is equipped with the state-of-art High Performance Computing facility and extensive network
infrastructure.

Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) for Exploration and Research - https://www.amd.gov.in

Under the Atomic Energy Act passed by the Govt. of India and followed by the creation of the Atomic Energy
Commission (AEC) on August 10, 1948, AMD was created on July 29, 1949 as ‘Rare Minerals Survey Unit’ with
headquarter in New Delhi. It was renamed first as ‘Raw Materials Division’ and then as ‘Atomic Minerals Division’ in
1958. Its headquarters was later shifted to Hyderabad. In keeping with its growing stature as one of the country’s
leading scientific organizations involved in multi-disciplinary and multi-faceted exploration-cum-research activities,
the ‘Division’ was rechristened as a ‘Directorate’ in 1998.The principal mandate of the unit is to carry out geological
exploration and discover mineral deposits required for Atomic Energy power program of the country.

Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC) - https://www.nfc.gov.in

As the nuclear power program for the country was formulated, it was envisaged to have self-reliance in
complete nuclear fuel cycle. Hence it was required to set up facilities with regard to fuel, heavy water and fuel
reprocessing within the country. The fuel requirement for the power program required industrial scale of operation.
In 1968, NFC Board was created under the Chairmanship of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai for setting up the Fuel
manufacturing facility. Nuclear Fuel manufacturing is very critical and plays a vital role in nuclear fuel cycle. The
stringent chemical, physical and metallurgical requirements of nuclear fuel need to be engineered into the nuclear
fuel during manufacturing. The physical characteristics also need to be engineered based on the operating
conditions of the nuclear fuels which are quite harsh and also varying from reactor to reactor. All this is achieved at
NFC

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) - https://www.npcil.nic.in

NPCIL was created in September 1987 under the Companies Act 1956, "with the objective of undertaking
the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the atomic power stations for generation of electricity in
pursuance of the schemes and programs of the Government of India." All nuclear power plants operated by the
company are certified for ISO-14001 (Environment Management System).NPCIL is responsible for constructing and
operating India's commercial nuclear power plants. Presently 22 reactors are operational at 7 locations, viz. Kaiga,
Kakrapar, Kudankulam, Kalpakkam, Narora, Rajasthan and Tarapur with an installed capacity of 6780 MW. Many
more reactors are proposed, planned or under construction in states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamilnadu,
Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Board of Radiation & Isotope Technology (BRIT) - https://www.britatom.gov.in

BRIT is an Industrial Unit of DAE at Vashi, Navi Mumbai providing a broad portfolio of products viz.,
radiopharmaceuticals, labelled
compound and nucleotides, sealed
radiation sources, gamma chambers,
blood irradiators and radiography
exposure devices. BRIT also offers
isotope application services,
radioanalytical services, calibration
and dosimetry services and radiation
processing services. BRIT has a wide
geographic coverage through its six
Regional Centres located at Bengaluru,
Delhi, Dibrugarh, Hyderabad, Kolkata
and Kota. BRIT’s focus on harnessing
the benefits of radioisotope
applications and radiation technology
across industry, healthcare, research
and agricultural sectors continues to
create a visible impact by fulfilling
societal needs through its various commercial ventures all over India.

Directorate of Construction, Services & Estate Management (DCSEM) - https://dcsem.gov.in

DCSEM is currently involved in Planning, Designing, Engineering, Execution, Testing and Commissioning of
Civil, Public health, Electrical, Air-conditioning and Ventilation works for Housing, Hostels, Schools, Hospitals,
Laboratories and various public buildings for units of Department of Atomic Energy including aided institutions and
other department such as Science / Electronics, Bio-technology etc. In addition the Directorate is responsible for the
operations and maintenance of all electrical, mechanical, civil, Estate Management and services for the housing
colony of DAE at Anushaktinagar (Refer to the figure above) and in different parts of Mumbai City.

Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI) - https://www.hbni.ac.in

The role of HBNI is to nurture in-depth capabilities in nuclear

science and engineering and to serve as a catalyst to accelerate the pace
of basic research and facilitate its translation into technology
development and applications through academic programs, viz., Master's
and Ph.D. degrees in Engineering, Physical, Chemical, Mathematical, Life
and Medical & Health Sciences while encouraging inter-disciplinary
research. HBNI has been accredited by NAAC with a score of 3.4, as a
category 'A+' University in 2021. The TSOs of the OCES batches are
awarded PG Diploma in Nuclear Science and Engineering after
completion of their Training Programme. The Engineering TSOs are
awarded M. Tech degree by HBNI subject to completion of one year
project after the OCES course work.
-----XXX-----

My success will not depend on what A or B thinks of me. My success will be what I make of my work.
--- Homi J. Bhabha