The Union Government informed Lok Sabha on Wednesday that safety assessments are regularly conducted at all nuclear power plant facilities by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and 'external government agencies.'
In a written reply to Congress Member Manikham Tagore, the Minister of State for Home Affairs in the Prime Minister's Office, Jitendra Singh, stated that the stations themselves also carry out internal safety assessments. He clarified that the received observations are analyzed, monitored, and necessary improvements are made to ensure compliance with requirements.
Tagore had requested detailed information on independent safety audits at nuclear facilities, including Kudankulam, as well as measures to counter threats from drones, cyberattacks, and sabotage. He also asked whether there have been any attempts at cyberattacks sponsored or suspected by foreign states in the last three years.
The national anti-nuclear movement alliance recently called on the Union Government to establish a commission to investigate an alleged leak of files related to the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant. This statement followed the alleged publication of hundreds of highly confidential files pertaining to the Kudankulam station by a ransomware group.
The Government did not directly disclose whether such foreign or state-sponsored attempts were detected. It stated that cybersecurity at nuclear facilities has received the 'highest priority,' with continuous monitoring and surveillance mechanisms in place. Preventive measures include access control, regular security checks, vulnerability assessments, incident response mechanisms, and capacity building programs. The role of CERT-in (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) in issuing alerts and advisory materials, coordinating cyber incident response, and managing the National Cyber Coordination Centre was noted.
Regarding physical security, Singh reported that nuclear power plants are equipped with perimeter intrusion detection systems, access control measures, CCTV surveillance, and baggage X-ray screening installations. AERB conducts regulatory inspections covering nuclear safety.
Singh also mentioned the existence of regulator-approved emergency preparedness plans at every nuclear power plant, including Kudankulam. Drills are periodically conducted involving local administrations, security services, and station management, and feedback received is used to revise and strengthen preparedness plans.
Tabletop exercises for Integrated Command, Control, and Response (ICCR) are conducted every two years. Mock drills are organized according to the schedule of the National Disaster Management Authority. An ICCR drill was conducted at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant on April 15, 2025.
The Government reported that all other nuclear power plant facilities conducted their latest ICCR drills since September 2024. In Kalpakkam, an off-site emergency exercise involving the district administration was conducted on July 17, 2026, initiated by a Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor.
