Amended bill tabled, SHANTI to boost India’s N-power capacity

New Delhi: The amended atomic energy bill was tabled in LS Monday, paving way for a huge policy shift in India’s atomic sector that is expected to accelerate civil nuclear energy production by opening doors for private players. The sector has till now been the preserve of govt enterprises.

Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025, introduced by MoS for department of atomic energy Jitendra Singh in the House, seeks to repeal Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA), 2010. It provides for “a pragmatic civil liability regime for nuclear damage and to confer statutory status to Atomic Energy Regulatory Board”, Singh said.




The new legislation seeks to support large-scale expansion of nuclear energy and radiation applications across power & non-power sectors. It is central to India’s goal of achieving 100GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047. It proposes a new legal framework that includes modern safety regulations, a dedicated nuclear tribunal for dispute resolution, and reforms to the nuclear liability regime to cap risks & attract investment.

While private companies and their joint ventures will be allowed to apply for licences to set up and operate nuclear facilities & transport nuclear fuel, critical functions such as uranium enrichment, spent fuel management and heavy water production will remain under the exclusive control of Centre. Govt will retain control over radioactive substances and radiation-generating equipment to address safety hazards.

Singh said the bill was aligned with the goal of increasing the share of nuclear energy in India’s overall energy mix, facilitating innovation in nuclear science and technology, &expanding its use in non-power applications, such as healthcare, food, water, agriculture, industry, environment, research and innovation, and emerging areas such as AI, while continuing to honour India’s obligations on safety, security, safeguards & nuclear liability.

The amendments are designed to finally implement the stalled Indo-US nuclear agreement, which has led to little progress beyond fuel imports due to liability issues, and enable US reactor construction in India.
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