Small modular reactors (SMRs) are advanced nuclear reactors that have a power generation capacity of up to 300 megawatts (MW) per unit, which is one-third the capacity of a traditional nuclear reactor. They have been in growing demand because being mobile and due to agile technology, SMRs can be factory-built vis-a-vis the conventional nuclear reactors that are built on-site. Thus, it is a promising technology in industrial de-carbonization, especially where there is a requirement for a reliable and continuous supply of power. Prospects of setting up SMRs in India:

• Cover rural areas: They can be built in locations not suitable for larger nuclear power plants.
  • In areas lacking sufficient lines of transmission and grid capacity, like rural regions, SMRs can be installed into an existing grid or remotely off-grid, as a function of its smaller electrical output, providing low-carbon power for industry and the population.
• Safer alternative: In comparison to the existing reactors, SMR designs are generally simpler, and the safety concept for SMRs often relies more on passive systems and inherent safety characteristics of the reactor, such as low power and operating pressure.
  • These increased safety margins, in some cases, eliminate or significantly lower the potential for unsafe releases of radioactivity to the environment and the public in case of an accident.
• Affordable: Pre-fabricated units of SMRs can be manufactured and then shipped and installed on-site, hence resulting in savings in cost and construction time.
• Reduced fuel requirements: Power plants based on SMRs may require less frequent refueling, every 3 to 7 years, in comparison to between 1 and 2 years for conventional plants.
• Energy security: SMRs can offer a reliable and constant source of clean energy, which could enhance India’s energy security by reducing its dependence on imported fossil fuels.

Challenges of setting up SMRs in India:

• Licensing and regulation: Deriving license and regulation protocols will require substantial research into the design safety parameters catering to SMRs.
• Safety concerns: Nuclear power plants, including SMRs, have the potential to cause significant harm in the event of an accident or malfunction. Therefore, ensuring the safety of SMRs is of utmost importance and requires a robust regulatory framework, skilled personnel, and adequate emergency response plans.
• Nuclear waste disposal: Effective management of nuclear waste remains a crucial problem for the nuclear industry and a major concern of the public as well.
• Public perception: There is a general lack of trust and concerns from local communities over the addition of nuclear power plants.
  • The anti-nuclear protests outside nuclear power plants in Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu, and Jaitapur, Maharashtra are two significant resistance movements in the last two decades.

To address the above challenges, the government should frame a collaborative licensing process suitable for SMRs without compromising India’s strategic interests. The integration of SMRs in India’s existing nuclear power program can also be done in both grid and off-grid approaches. Moreover, India can collaborate globally, such as Cooperation in Reactor Design Evaluation and Licensing, to develop staffing requirements, basic safety specifications, and regulation and licensing protocols suitable for SMRs. Although integrating SMRs into the nuclear power grid will take time, working on a concept of SMRs that suits India’s current nuclear energy regime is a crucial opportunity for India to address the factors that have contributed to the lag in nuclear energy growth in the country.

Answer: Quantum technology is an emerging field of physics and engineering powered by the principles defined by quantum mechanics. Quantum mechanics is a subfield of physics that explains the nature and behavior of matter and energy on the atomic and subatomic levels. Currently, the technological developments in this field are in nascent stages but have huge potential with widespread applications. It can play a key role in driving economic growth and improving the lives of people as given below:

• Financial Portfolio Optimisation: Quantum computing and Quantum communication technology can be used for portfolio optimization, risk management, fraud detection, credit scoring and other predictive analytics tasks. This could increase the accessibility of capital for growth and development.
• Secured digital transactions: Quantum-enabled encryption could also be used to protect sensitive financial data from hackers and cybercriminals, leading to safer and more resilient financial infrastructure.
• Boost to agricultural growth: Quantum sensing and metrology can be used to better assess plant growth and production, potentially leading to more targeted intervention and reduced resource requirements. Quantum-enabled precision agriculture can increase the efficiency of farming operations and improve the livelihoods of farmers.
• Improvised healthcare system: Quantum computing has the potential to significantly improve the accuracy and speed of medical diagnoses. The key potential use cases for quantum computing in the healthcare industry include diagnostic assistance, precision medicine, accelerated drug discovery and pricing optimization.
• Improving education system: Quantum computing has widespread applications in the fields of aerospace engineering, education, etc. For instance, in education technology (EdTech) quantum- driven algorithms will make informed decisions on student learning and deficits.

However, there are some challenges associated with quantum technology as given below:

• Shortage of skilled workforce: When it comes to capacity and skilled professionals, India has a small talent pool in the realm of quantum computing. At present, there are just a few hundred researchers, industry professionals, academicians, and entrepreneurs in the quantum computing field in the country.
• Lack of Industry-Academia linkage: Most quantum-related research and development is carried out at university campuses. While academia can provide well-researched prototypes, industry connect is not enough for developing them into scalable applications.
• Dependency on hardware import: Though a few private companies and start-ups have started to develop the critical quantum, most of the components/hardware are still imported.
• Lack of knowledge-sharing avenues: At present, research is carried out in silos, and knowledge exchange is not well structured. A common platform for all quantum research and development in the country is lacking.

Despite the challenges, quantum technology has the potential to accelerate development in India. However, entrepreneurship, innovation, training programs, and consulting in quantum technology will be crucial to developing a knowledge ecosystem and bridging the skill gap. This will lead to the creation of a dedicated quantum community in India, capable of collaborating with researchers and industry professionals worldwide.

The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme, which was introduced in 2015, was aimed at addressing the concerns of gender discrimination and women empowerment in the country. The scheme was initially launched in only 161 districts and eventually covered all 640 districts of the country.
Since its inception, the BBBP scheme has resulted in increased awareness and sensitization of the masses regarding the prevalence of gender bias and the role of the community in eradicating it. The Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) has improved by 16 points from 918 to 934 and the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of girls in the schools at secondary level has improved from 77.45 to 81.32 in between 2014-15 to 2019-20.
However, it has failed to achieve its objectives in certain areas, which include the following:

• Though the Central and state governments have taken multiple measures to improve the gender ratio, the practice of female foeticide remains rampant.
• One of the BBBP scheme’s aims was improving the SRB in gender critical districts by ten points in a year. However, as per the CAG reports, in various districts of Haryana and Punjab, the sex ratio has worsened.
• The target of increasing girls’ enrolment in secondary schools and achieving 100% re- enrolment of girls who had dropped out was also left incomplete.

These shortfalls have been due to various issues that persist in its implementation and monitoring, such as:

• Inefficacy regarding allocation of funds: A 2017 CAG Report has highlighted the inefficient allocation of funds due to which the scheme falls short in social, economic, and general sectors. The report highlighted the cases of Punjab and Haryana with issues of under-utilization of funds, non-compliance to guidelines and infrequent task meetings.
• Violation of earmarked funds: A Parliamentary Committee noted that huge spending on national-level media campaigns and advocacy alone for the scheme was a clear violation of the 50-lakh provision earmarked for each district under the scheme.
• Socio-cultural factors: Existing patriarchal social norms such as son preference, dual burden of care responsibilities of women and regressive power structures continue to pose hurdles for young girls in terms of survival and education.
• Lack of political will: The lack of frequent meetings at the district and state levels can lead to the scheme losing the momentum it has created in the past few years.
• Structural barriers: Inadequate staff to regularly conduct field inspections and review the implementation at the grassroots level, unavailability of clean functional toilets, etc. were found to be the key constraints to retention of girls in schools and their education cycle.

Measures that can lead to better implementation of the scheme include:

• Gender sensitisation training and capacity building for personnel along with basic digital upskilling would go a long way in ensuring better implementation of the scheme.
• Incentivising educated females to join schools as teachers could ramp up female enrolment in schools.
• Local frontline workers such as ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, and Mahila Mandals should play key representatives.
• The formation of “Balika Manch”, activated school management committees, and linking out of school girls with back-to-school alternative education initiatives for bettering the enrolment rate should be adopted.

Diligent and effective implementation of the BBBP scheme is crucial to bridging gender gaps in critical areas of healthcare and education for girls and women and achieving India’s goal of SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality). Gender parity in terms of survival and education is essential for achieving equitable economic development and a cornerstone for ensuring basic human rights.