India's PFBR Attains Criticality at Kalpakkam

# India's PFBR Attains Criticality at Kalpakkam ### Why in News? India’s first indigenously developed **500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR)** at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, attained criticality, marking the start of the **second stage** of India’s three-stage nuclear programme. ### What makes PFBR special? - **Breeder reactor**: Produces more fuel than it consumes, using a **Uranium-238 blanket** to breed fissile material. - **Fuel**: Uses **Uranium-Plutonium Mixed Oxide (MOX)**. - **Safety**: Equipped with advanced passive safety features for automatic shutdown. - **Global standing**: India becomes the **second country after Russia** to have a commercial-scale fast breeder reactor. ### Exam Connect **PFBR** → Built by **BHAVINI** (under DAE), designed by **IGCAR** **Three-Stage Programme** → Formulated by **Dr. Homi J. Bhabha** **Stage 1** → PHWR + natural uranium **Stage 2** → Fast Breeder Reactors (Plutonium) **Stage 3** → Thorium-based reactors ### Remember This > **PFBR criticality → Kalpakkam → Second stage → India second after Russia → Thorium next**