Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research
| Established | 1971 |
|---|---|
| Research type | Nuclear research centre |
| Budget | ₹8,450 million (US$100 million) per annum |
Field of research | Atomic Energy, Material Physics, Nano-Sciences, Electronics and Instrumentation, Reactor Engineering, Metallurgy |
| Director | C G Karhadkar |
| Staff | 2511 |
| Location | Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, India 12°31′26″N 80°09′25″E / 12.5238°N 80.1569°E |
| 603102 | |
Operating agency | Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India |
| Website | www |
Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) is a premier Indian nuclear research centre located in Kalpakkam, India. It is the second largest establishment of the Department of Atomic Energy, after Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). It was formed as Reactor Research Centre (RCC) on April 30, 1971 by an executive order by Vikram Sarabhai, the then Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission. It was renamed to its current name in December 1985 by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
The centre was originally established under the aegis and vision of Sarabhai as a space directed towards the development of fast breeder reactor technology in India, as part of the three-stage nuclear power program. Today, the centre is engaged in a multidisciplinary research programme in various scientific and advanced engineering fields coordinating with the primary nuclear energy research.