Finance
The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025, which was passed by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, intends to achieve nuclear self-reliance while also meeting India’s clean energy goals by 2047.
The proposed legislation seeks to build an enabling ecosystem for clean, dependable energy while maintaining the long-standing commitment to the peaceful use of atomic energy.
It also demonstrates India’s commitment to global best practices in nuclear governance.
The Bill allows responsible private and joint venture engagement to bridge resource restrictions, shorten gestation periods, and support the national goal of 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047, all without jeopardizing national security or the public interest.
What are the provisions under the Bill?
The Bill consolidates and rationalizes elements from the Atomic Energy Act of 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act, and gives the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board statutory standing, incorporating it into the parent legislation.
The Bill allows for the privatisation of the nuclear sector, with the goal of achieving self-reliance and meeting India’s clean energy targets by 2047. It follows the privatisation of the space sector, which experienced substantial expansion.
However, the new Bill will allow commercial partners to participate in exploration efforts under certain conditions. Beyond certain thresholds, uranium mining will continue to be solely government-controlled.
Similarly, spent fuel management will always be under government control, with a well-defined, long-term storage and handling policy. Strategic materials including source material, fissile material, and heavy water will remain under strong government supervision.
How the Bill addresses safety concerns
Union Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh in the Lok Sabha said that nuclear safety standards remain unchanged and uncompromised, governed by the same stringent principles enshrined in the Atomic Energy Act of 1962 – “safety first, production next.”
The safety standards include a stringent inspection regime, which includes quarterly inspections during construction, biannual inspections during operation, five-year license renewals, increased powers for the now-statutory Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, and oversight in accordance with International Atomic Energy Agency guidelines.
Notably, because India’s nuclear plants are physically placed far from seismic fault zones, radiation levels at Indian reactors are many times lower than the global safety limits.
How the Bill will work
The proposed law is intimately related to India’s long-term energy and climate goals, and it defines the country’s plan for decarbonization by 2070.
At the operational level, the Bill establishes requirements for licensing and safety authorization for specific individuals involved in the production or use of nuclear energy, as well as defined grounds for suspension or cancellation.
It aims to regulate the use of nuclear and radiation technologies in areas such as healthcare, food and agriculture, industry, and research, while exempting R&D and innovation activities from licensing requirements.
The Bill also proposes a revised and pragmatic civil liability framework for nuclear damage, confers statutory status on the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, and strengthens mechanisms related to safety, security, safeguards, quality assurance, and emergency preparedness.
It establishes new institutional arrangements, including an Atomic Energy Redressal Advisory Council, the appointment of Claims Commissioners, and a Nuclear Damage Claims Commission for cases involving severe nuclear damage, with the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity serving as the appellate authority.
The proposed legislation intends to strike a balance between nuclear energy expansion and safety, accountability, and public interest, integrating nuclear power into a larger national effort to achieve energy security and a lower-carbon future.
Source: IANS
