Page 124 - Constitution

70 Years of Indian Years of Indian

Constitution
Constitution

The Modi government in 2017
he Article 51A of The Constitution of India has
duly pointed out that it shall be the duty of every approved the construction of 10
indigenous Pressurized Heavy Water
T citizen of India to protect and improve the natural
Reactors (PHWR) with total installed
environment including forests, lakes, rivers, wild life and to
have compassion for living creatures, to develop the scientific capacity of 7000 MW
temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform, to
strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and
conviction that the power of the atom can be harnessed to
collective activity, so that the Nation constantly rises to higher
produce carbon-free electricity in a sustainable manner for
levels of endeavour and achievement.
energy security of the country with a growing population and
The above three fundamental Constitutional duties are
at the same time produce radio-isotopes for use in healthcare,
immensely relevant to the vision of an Atma Nirbhar Bharat
particularly cancer treatment. It has been a bold step taken
(Self Reliant India), effective implementation of the National
by the Government under the leadership of Prime Minister
Education Policy (NEP) 2020, meeting India’s commitment to
Modi during the year 2017 by approving construction of 10
climate change and the country to become a global leader in
indigenous Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR)
science and technology.
with total installed capacity of 7000 MW. The decision for
India is poised to be self-reliant in energy, agriculture, food
constructing the reactors in a fleet mode is unprecedented in
& health care and communication, which can be achieved by
the history of India’s atomic energy program.
discharging the ‘Constitutional Duties’ with utmost sincerity
India is one of the very few select nations in the world
and dedication by every individual associated with the
pursuing an accelerated expansion of nuclear power based
program. It is relevant to cite the example of India’s atomic
on closed fuel cycle. The exceptional success in our nuclear
energy and space programme and its is one of the very few
program is due to the “nuclear culture” - which is inspired
nations in the world to have mastered the nuclear technology
by the fundamental duties of the Constitution of India, that
and accomplished several mission oriented space projects.
is to develop the scientific temper and to strive towards
The dedication and commitment of the scientific community
excellence so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels
to strive towards excellence so that the nation constantly
of endeavour and achievement.
rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievements, is one
There are many priorities, but protecting the environment
of the “fundamental duties” of the Constitution of India.
- which is one of the fundamental duties in the Constitution
India’s nuclear energy program, being in a technology
of India, is given paramount importance by the Ministry of
denial regime, has been “Atma Nirbhar” since its inception.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change. One of the India’s
India’s abiding interest in nuclear energy grew out of a deep
post-2020 climate goals is to achieve about 40 percent electric

124 70 Years of Indian Constitution