Science

Breeding the Future: India's Kalpakkam Nuclear Reactor Attains Criticality

On April 6, 2026, India's long-delayed nuclear dream took a monumental leap forward. Deep within the coastal complex of Kalpakkam, the 500-megawatt Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) successfully achieved its first criticality, launching a controlled, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction. This historic milestone positions India as a global leader in closed-loop nuclear technology, unlocking a path to tap its vast domestic thorium reserves and secure century-long energy independence.