India is cooking up an energy storm to keep lights glowing when the sun sets and solar power clocks out! The government has given a sweet deal to old nuclear power plants, allowing them to charge an extra 0.5 rupees per unit (that’s $0.0056) for electricity. This special reward is for plants running strong for at least 30 years. Announced on the Central Electricity Authority website, this exciting policy is retroactive from April 2022 and will run for five years. Why this extra cash? India’s energy planners are counting on steady, reliable energy from coal and nuclear power just as the sun dips and nearly 130 gigawatts of solar energy goes offline every evening. This backup is crucial to keep homes, shops, and streets buzzing with power after sunset. India has big dreams — aiming to ramp up nuclear power capacity to a whopping 100 gigawatts by 2047. To reach this towering target, the state-run Nuclear Power Corp. of India Ltd. (NPCIL) needs to earn more money to invest in new projects and keep current plants shining bright. Currently, India’s nuclear power plants make up less than 2% of the country’s total electricity capacity. Of these, about a fifth have been around for over 30 years, now eligible for this special allowance. In the fiscal year ending March 2025, nuclear plants earned a neat average of 3.83 rupees per kilowatt hour. The government isn’t stopping here. It’s tweaking nuclear laws to invite private players, hoping to add fuel to NPCIL’s efforts and power India’s energy future. So, as solar power takes a break each evening, India’s coal and nuclear heroes are stepping up to keep the energy lights on, aiming for a vibrant and powerful 2047!