Introduction: A Nuclear Vision for Viksit Bharat@2047 As India marches toward its ambitious goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047, energy security stands as a pivotal pillar in the vision of Viksit Bharat . Amid the global climate crisis and rising energy demands, nuclear power has re-emerged as a compelling solution. India’s commitment to achieving 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047 is both visionary and necessary—but achieving this requires a strategic shift in policy, participation, and international cooperation. While India’s nuclear energy sector has traditionally been a tightly controlled domain under government monopoly—primarily led by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) —it is now imperative to welcome private sector investments and foreign partnerships. A reformed nuclear ecosystem can unlock the full potential of atomic energy as a clean, reliable, and scalable contributor to India’s net-zero aspiration...
DRDO’s Scramjet Engine Breakthrough: A Step Towards Hypersonic Missile Systems The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted a 120-second ground test of an active-cooled scramjet combustor at its Hyderabad-based Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) . This is a major achievement in India's quest for hypersonic propulsion technology , essential for developing next-generation missile systems. What is a Scramjet Engine? A Scramjet (Supersonic Combustion Ramjet) engine is a type of air-breathing jet engine designed to operate efficiently at hypersonic speeds (Mach 5 and above) . Unlike conventional jet engines, scramjets do not have rotating compressors and instead rely on supersonic airflow for compression and combustion . Key Highlights of the DRDO Test 1. Successful 120-Second Ground Test Conducted by DRDL, Hyderabad . Validated the performance of an active-cooled scramjet combustor . Key milestone in the development of India’s hy...