Bhabha atomic research centre : India’s premier atomic research facility

The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is India’s premier nuclear research facility headquartered in Trombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra. BARC’s core mandate is to sustain peaceful applications of nuclear energy, primarily for power generation. But nuclear weapons are just as important for peace.

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre

• ‘Atoms in the service of the Nation’ is the motto of Bhabha atomic research centre.
• It was established on January 3, 1954 and Homi Bhabha was the man looking after the entire progress of research facility. He was known for devising the correct expression for scattering electrons, by a process called as ‘Bhabha scattering’.

• During the Indian freedom struggle, he was starting a career in nuclear physics in UK.
• It was earlier known as Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) having the scientists of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. The name was changed to BARC (Bhabha Atomic Research Center) to honour Homi J. Bhabha.
• BARC has till date successfully established multiple 5 Power Reactors. Earlier they were brought from the USA.
• The first reactor developed in 1956 was named as Apsara.
• BARC also designed its first pressurized water reactor of 80mw capacity at Kalpakkam.
• Not only in nuclear energy but BARC is also engaged in agricultural research. The crops developed here are known as Trombay crops and are given named starting with ‘T’ to represent the same.
• And talking about the civilians research, the scientists have successfully developed 15 new varieties of groundnuts.
• Dhruva reactor is the most crucial achievement of BARC till date as this reactor is totally designed, commissioned and constructed by Indians.
• It also played a significant role in making India the 6th country in the world to have a nuclear submarine.

Despite of the tight budgets, less government and foreign support, this organisation has always helped India in maintaining its fame in the world.