Dr. Sekhar Basu was a distinguished Indian nuclear scientist whose remarkable career contributed significantly to India’s nuclear and scientific programmes.Born on 20 September 1952, he dedicated decades of his life to advancing complex scientific and technological missions. He played important leadership roles at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and the Department of Atomic Energy. His expertise contributed to major nuclear science, reactor, and fuel-cycle initiative

On 10 September 2018, the upgraded APSARA-U research reactor achieved its First Approach to Criticality at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in India, marking a significant milestone in the country’s nuclear research journey. APSARA-U is an indigenously developed pool-type research reactor that uses low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel and is designed to support advanced research, neutron-based applications, and radioisotope production. It carries forward the legacy of the