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The Institute of Plasma Research (IPR) has successfully commissioned India's first Small-Scale Spherical TOKAMAK (SS-ST), marking a significant achievement in fusion research. The SS-ST operates with a smaller horizontal footprint and less powerful magnets, potentially lowering construction costs.

Initial plasma experiments were conducted on December 11, 2025, following the assembly of subsystems. The vacuum vessel maintained a base pressure of below 2 × 10^-7 mbar, and the system delivered 99.999% pure hydrogen gas, leading to successful plasma production on the first attempt. High-speed imaging captured plasma formation and confirmed diagnostic signals, indicating the viability of SS-ST for future fusion research.