What are the Obstacles?

Maintaining the reaction: After it's started, the reaction needs to be self-sustaining (burning plasma).

Present laboratory tests accomplish fusion solely for short durations, hindering the ability to maintain such extreme conditions for extended times.

Fusion must contend with nuclear fission, solar, and wind energy, which are presently more economical and scalable.

Funding constraints in India: India’s budget for fusion research is relatively small when compared to that of the US, EU, and China.

Present Status of Fusion Energy

Indian Context: SST-1 (Institute for Plasma Research – IPR): This superconducting tokamak has successfully maintained plasma confinement for around 650 milliseconds.

SST-Bharat is designed as the progression from SST-1, seeking to transition from experimental studies to real electricity production.

Global advancement indicators comprise:

In February 2025, France's WEST tokamak achieved a world record by maintaining a stable hydrogen plasma for more than 22 minutes.

China’s EAST Tokamak: China sustained plasma at a temperature of 100 million°C for 1,066 seconds in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), showcasing significant advancements in maintaining high-temperature plasma.

ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor): ITER's goal is to reach a Q of 10, indicating it will generate tenfold the energy it uses, an essential milestone in proving the viability of fusion energy.

Path Forward

Fusion research must be undertaken not just to guarantee long-term energy stability but also to promote strategic technological progress, such as superconducting materials, high-temperature engineering, and plasma modeling.

The 2060 goal indicates a careful yet intentional strategy, enabling India to slowly cultivate the essential skills, infrastructure, and technologies to ultimately realize efficient and sustainable fusion energy.