Acronym may be 'SHANTI' ... that's peace !!
But Moditva is back with a mega reform strategy .....
Global players - Westinghouse, GE-Hitachi,
France's EDF and Russia's Rosatom have expressed willingness to partner with Indian firms
Conglomerates Tata Power, Adani Power and Reliance Industries have already indicated interest in investing in nuclear energy....
.... Rahul Gandhi should be 'observed' keenly .... he may lead the cat out among the pigeons during Germany trip itself.
He should not be forced to withdraw it as the '56-inch' Narendra Modi gave in to the pressure (caved in) to 'agri-middlemen' protest in 2021 ???
The government tabled the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025 in Lok Sabha.
When passed by both the Houses of Parliament, the Bill will repeal the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 – two laws long viewed by industry players and foreign partners as major roadblocks to investment in nuclear power.
This signals a major overhaul of India's civil nuclear framework.
The draft law aims to end the decades-long state monopoly on nuclear power and enable private sector participation.
"The Bill seeks to provide for a pragmatic civil liability regime for nuclear damage and to confer statutory status to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board," Union Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh said.
The SHANTI Bill aligns with India's broader goals of
* increasing the share of nuclear energy in the national energy mix,
** promoting innovation in nuclear science and technology,
*** expanding non-power applications, and continuing to meet international obligations on nuclear safety, security and safeguards.
WHAT DOES THE SHANTI BILL PROPOSE?
A key shift proposed under the SHANTI Bill is allowing Indian private companies to apply for licences to build, own, operate and decommission nuclear power plants and reactors
- activities that have so far been restricted mainly to the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) and joint ventures with other state-run firms.
*** Reform with 'cautioning' and protective measures ::
Private companies incorporated in India would also be eligible for a range of nuclear-related activities, including fabrication of nuclear fuel, transportation and storage of nuclear and spent fuel....
, and the import or export of prescribed equipment, technology or software.
However, companies incorporated outside India or controlled by foreign entities will not be permitted to hold licences.
Also, sensitive activities such as fuel enrichment, spent-fuel reprocessing and heavy water production will exclusively remain under government control.
The legislation limits liability for a nuclear incident to plant operators and explicitly exempts equipment suppliers, addressing a key concern that had deterred foreign vendors.
The Bill caps the maximum liability for each nuclear incident at the rupee equivalent of 300 million Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), an IMF-defined reserve asset, in line with international norms.
Operators will be required to maintain insurance or liability funds ranging from about USD 11 million to USD 330 million, depending on reactor size.
A separate nuclear liability fund will cover excess claims, with the government stepping in if damages exceed the capped limits.
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Stringent penalties are provided for violations,
*** ranging from Rs 5 lakh for minor breaches to up to Rs 1 crore for serious offences.
All operators – public or private – will need government licences and safety clearances from the AERB.
Foreign-controlled firms will be barred from holding licences.
The Bill is closely tied to India's climate commitments, including the goal of net-zero emissions by 2070
(blogger will be 100 years old and Modi .... 120 !!)
.... And a target of achieving 100 gigawatts of nuclear power capacity by 2047, up from about 8.2 GW at present.
To reach this scale, the government has underlined the need to better harness indigenous nuclear resources,
** enable participation of both public and private sectors,
*** and position India as a meaningful contributor to the global nuclear energy ecosystem.
Certain exclusions are also specified in the Bill:
Operators will not be liable for damage to the under-construction nuclear installation itself, other installations on the same site, related property, or the means of transport carrying nuclear material at the time of the incident.
The Bill grants statutory status to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), which currently functions under an executive order, strengthening the safety and oversight framework. It also proposes the creation of an Atomic Energy Redressal Advisory Council to resolve disputes.
ends
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