Science & Tech 03 September 2026
India Unveils 1st Private Fusion Reactor 'Pragya'
Why in the News?
Bengaluru-based startup Pranos Fusion has unveiled 'Pragya', India’s first privately developed compact tokamak nuclear fusion reactor.
Key Features / Major Points:
Purpose & Role: Pragya serves as an experimental testbed to study superheated plasma and test fusion technologies rather than generating commercial power immediately.
Operational Scale: Built in 8 months, it will operate for nearly two decades, conducting roughly 3,000 experimental shots annually.
Roadmap: Targets launching high-temperature superconducting magnets by 2027 and building the 'PraniQ' net-gain fusion reactor by 2030.
Private Sector Entry: Marks the entry of India's private startup ecosystem into nuclear fusion research, moving beyond traditional government-led projects.
Static GK Facts:
Tokamak: A device that uses magnetic fields to confine superheated plasma in a doughnut-shaped vessel for controlled nuclear fusion.
Nuclear Fusion: The energy-releasing process that powers the Sun and stars by combining light atomic nuclei.
ITER: World's largest magnetic confinement plasma physics experiment located in France, with India as a founding member.
One-Liner Quiz (All Competitive Exams):
Q: What is the name of India's first private compact tokamak fusion reactor?
A: Pragya
Q: Which startup developed the 'Pragya' fusion reactor?
A: Pranos Fusion
Q: Which global fusion research mega-project is India a member of?
A: ITER (France)