The deal ensures a supply of around 10,000 tonnes of uranium between 2027 and 2035 to India. While importing uranium ore is cheaper than extracting it, it can’t legally be used in nuclear weapons. On the flip side, the NCA has also been criticised for tacitly supporting India’s nuclear weapons programme: the more uranium India imports for civilian use, the more domestic uranium it can vouchsafe for military use. India currently operates 24 nuclear reactors with a generation capacity of around 9 GW. Domestic uranium is also used for nuclear warheads (currently estimated to number around 170) and the nuclear-powered INS Arihant class submarines.

Source: The Hindu March 05, 2026 15:30 UTC