Beyond Reactors: 2 niche engineering stocks in India’s 100 GW nuclear race

India's nuclear expansion is opening up a niche opportunity in an unlikely corner of the capital goods industry: specialised pumps. These pumps may not attract the same attention as reactors, turbines or transmission equipment do. But they are critical to a nuclear plant's operational safety. A primary coolant pump, for instance, circulates coolant through the reactor core to prevent overheating. That makes nuclear pumps very different from conventional industrial pumps. Suppliers need specialised engineering capabilities, extensive testing and approvals before they can participate in the nuclear supply chain. Once qualified, however, those requirements also create a significant barrier to entry. This is becoming increasingly relevant as India prepares for a much larger nuclear build-out. India’s nuclear capacity is currently around 8.8 GW, with the government targeting to reach 22 GW by 2032 and 100 GW over the next 20 years.