Bhubaneswar, Nov. 28 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced a major shift in India's nuclear energy policy, signalling the entry of private players into a sector traditionally controlled by the government.

Addressing the virtual inauguration of Hyderabad-based space start-up Skyroot's Infinity Campus, Modi said, "We are moving towards opening the nuclear sector as well. We are laying the foundation for a strong role for the private sector in this field." He added that this reform will create opportunities in small modular reactors, advanced reactors, and nuclear innovation, strengthening India's energy security and technological leadership.

The government has set an ambitious goal of scaling India's nuclear power capacity...