Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) was set up at Kalpakkam in 1971 towards establishment of Fast Breeder Reactor technology, as part of the second stage of Indian nuclear power programme. The mission of IGCAR is to conduct broad based multidisciplinary programme of scientific research and advanced Engineering, directed towards the development of sodium cooled Fast Breeder Reactor [FBR] technology and associated closed fuel cycle technologies, in India.

In pursuit of our mission, the country's first fast breeder reactor, a sodium cooled 40MWt/13.2 MWe experimental reactor named Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) was constructed and made operational in 1985. FBTR is the first-of-its-kind reactor in the world to use a unique high plutonium based U-Pu mixed carbide as driver fuel and is utilised primarily for irradiation of fuel and structural materials. The reactor attained its rated capacity of 40 MWt on the 7th of March 2022 and has completed 40 years of successful operation. With the experience and expertise gained through the successful operation of FBTR, the Centre embarked on the design of the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR). As the principal architect of this indigenous reactor, IGCAR provided the complete technical foundation and support across all stages of development, testing, and commissioning. A monumental milestone in the history of India's nuclear power programme was achieved on April 6, 2026, when PFBR attained first criticality.

In alignment with clean energy goals of the nation, the world's unique hydrogen production facility powered by nuclear heat was commissioned and demonstrated at Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) on 26th June, 2026. This facility is based on the indigenously developed Copper-Chlorine (Cu-Cl) thermo chemical cycle technology developed by BARC.

The Uranium-233 fuelled Kalpakkam Mini Reactor (KAMINI), a facility of national excellence, continues to operate successfully towards neutron radiography of irradiated fuels, activation analysis, neutron detector testing, and other plant-related experiments. This unique facility has provided extensive support to much space, strategic and defence programmes.

R&D towards design of future FBRs, studies on structural mechanics, seismic qualification, safety engineering as well as the design, development, testing and qualification of fast reactor components are being pursued.

The Centre is also at the forefront in the R&D in fuel cycle technologies and has established the state-of the-art facilities such as Compact Reprocessing of Advanced fuels in Lead cells (CORAL) and the Demonstration Fast reactor Fuel Reprocessing Plant (DFRP) towards closing of various fuel cycles.  These facilities help to develop advanced, safe and efficient methods for recovering valuable strategic nuclear materials from irradiated fast reactor fuels.

In addition, IGCAR is actively engaged in a wide spectrum of research and development activities, including the development of different FBR fuels, establishment of pyrochemical processes, development of chemical sensors for various specialised applications.

Other research activities like immobilising waste from fast reactor fuel which has higher fission product contents, production of radio-isotopes like Sr-89, P-32, Y-90 etc and specific basic R&D like development of novel analytical techniques etc., are being pursued.

Research towards the indigenization in the areas of Electronic Instrumentation & nuclear Control systems for fast breeder reactors and reprocessing plants are being carried out effectively.

The Centre is also mandated towards the indigenous development of advanced high-temperature and swell-resistant structural and fuel materials for nuclear reactors, and special graphite coatings for use in pyrochemical reprocessing.

Studies on irradiated defects in nuclear materials, developing thin film coatings for tribological applications, high pressure and temperature induced phase transitions in condensed matter systems and SQUID based applications are also being pursued actively. This Centre is working on the development of a novel quantum secure direct communication scheme as part of the National Quantum Mission.

Safety research towards reinforcing the design and accident mitigation strategies for NPP, Environmental impact / dose assessment for radiological and chemical contaminants by modelling transport and dispersion in environment are being carried out. Online Nuclear Emergency Response System (ONERS), an indigenously developed Decision Support System by IGCAR in collaboration with NRSC-ISRO, is operational for real-time management of nuclear and radiological emergencies. A Wind Profiler and Doppler Weather Radar have been established to provide enhanced meteorological inputs for the system.  Online Isotope Monitoring system provides real time data on radioactivity concentrations for improved source term estimation in Decision Support System. A Fission Product Noble Gas (FPNG) monitor has been installed and commissioned in one of the predominant wind sectors of Kalpakkam site to provide real-time data on the presence of radioactive gases and their concentrations in atmospheric environment.

Environmental monitoring in air, water and soils within Kalpakkam complex and establishment of environmental radiation monitoring network for all the facilities, Irradiation services for R&D in agricultural and medical fields, conducting public awareness programmes across states in Southern India, periodic outreach activities for school, college students, members of public, officials of Govt organisations, defence, visiting IGCAR are being conducted. Calibration services to all Gamma and Neutron monitors using the accredited Regional Calibration Laboratory etc., are the other major thrust areas the Centre has been pursuing.

IGCAR nurtures a mix of both basic and applied research programs and is equipped with excellent research facilities on multiple fronts. It also has active collaborative R&D links with many eminent research institutions in India and abroad in multiple domains.

IGCAR actively drives industrial growth through the incubation of technologies and extensive technology transfer to numerous private sector firms through DAE Incubation Centre at IGCAR, registered as Section 8 company called AIC-IGCAR-FAST Foundation.

Shri Sreekumar G Pillai, Outstanding Scientist is currently steering the activities of this Centre.