New Delhi. 05 July 2019. The Union Budget 2019-20 proposed customs duty reductions on certain raw materials and capital goods needed for nuclear power plants. While presenting the Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman said these measures will further promote domestic manufacturing.

The customs duty reduction will be applicable for the following nuclear power plants:

  1. MahiBanswara Atomic Power project- 1 to 4,
  2. Kaiga Atomic Power project – 5 & 6,
  3. Gorakhpur Atomic Power project- 3 & 4,
  4. Chutka Atomic Power project- 1 & 2

With regard to Budget Estimates for Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Rs 16,925 crore has been provided for FY 2019-20. The outlay for major schemes are given below:

Outlay of major schemes:(in Rs crore)

Schemes                                 2018-19 (RE)                          2019-20 (BE) 

Nuclear fuel inventory                       417                                          749

R&D basic Science and Engineering 1000                                        1320

R&D for Fast Reactor S&T                     210                                          271

Backed Fuel cycle projects                    240                                         440

Radiation & Isotopes project                30                                            110

Nuclear Power Projects                          64                                            110

Nuclear Fuel Projects                              164                                          170

AERB Expansion Project                         15                                            40