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Stating that India is among the world leaders in nuclear technology, Kakodkar, who is also secretary to the department of atomic energy, said the country needed some additional uranium to start with, over and above what is already available.

Kakodkar said India had been self-reliant in its capabilities to pursue an autonomous path which was best suited for the country, but for the embargo which currently exists.

The nuclear scientist said India would pursue a three-stage domestic development programme which can lead to unleashing vast energy potential present in the country's thorium resources on high priority.

Kakodkar said it was interesting that nuclear power plants, which were generating electricity, also produced nuclear fuel, while fast breeder reactors produced more fuel than they consumed. He said this would help India in increasing generation of electricity without the need for additional external fuel.

The demand-supply gap in energy would progressively widen over the next few decades, the nuclear scientist added.

During the convocation, IIT Kharagpur conferred degrees to successful students and scholars in various technical and engineering fields.