SHANTI Bill 2025: Strategic Shift to Private Participation in India's Nuclear Sector
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | SDG 13: Climate Action
Department of Atomic Energy | Atomic Energy Regulatory Board | Atomic Energy Commission | Central Electricity Authority
The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025, introduced in the Lok Sabha, seeks to replace the Atomic Energy Act of 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010. The legislation aims to achieve 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047 by ending the government’s exclusive monopoly and enabling a multi-stakeholder ecosystem involving both public and private sectors.
Key structural and regulatory reforms proposed:
Private Sector Participation: The Bill allows “any other company” beyond government entities to apply for licenses to build, own, and operate nuclear power plants and reactors.
Three-Stage Programme Integration: The Bill provides the legal framework to accelerate the three-stage nuclear power development programme, which is essential for the large-scale exploitation of India’s abundant thorium reserves.
Research and Innovation: Peaceful research and innovation in nuclear energy are broadly permitted for private entities, specifically to support future-ready applications like AI, quantum technologies, and semiconductor fabrication.
Statutory Regulatory Body: It confers formal statutory status to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), empowering it to frame safety standards and codes for the entire life cycle of nuclear facilities.
Civil Liability Framework: A “no-fault” liability regime is established, with an operator’s maximum liability per incident capped at ₹3,000 crore for reactors exceeding 3,600 MW thermal power.
Nuclear Liability Fund: The Central Government will establish a dedicated fund to meet its liability obligations in case of severe nuclear incidents.
What is the Three-Stage Nuclear Power Programme? A unique indigenous strategy formulated to utilize India’s modest uranium but vast thorium reserves. It transitions from pressurized heavy-water reactors (Stage 1) to fast breeder reactors (Stage 2) and finally to thorium-based reactors (Stage 3), aiming for long-term sustainable energy independence.
Policy Relevance
The SHANTI Bill is a strategic cornerstone for India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, transitioning from a restrictive command-and-control model to a collaborative ecosystem. By facilitating private investment and de-licensing research, it aims to de-risk the nuclear sector, foster domestic manufacturing of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), and secure a reliable, carbon-neutral power supply for high-growth sectors like data centers and strategic manufacturing. It also creates a robust dispute resolution mechanism through the Atomic Energy Redressal Advisory Council.
Follow the full news here: THE SUSTAINABLE HARNESSING AND ADVANCEMENT OF NUCLEAR ENERGY FOR TRANSFORMING INDIA BILL, 2025