Parliament Clears SHANTI Bill, Permits Private Participation With Nuclear Safety Safeguards

Parliament has approved the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025, with the Rajya Sabha passing the legislation after its earlier clearance by the Lok Sabha.

Replying to an extensive debate in the Upper House, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Atomic Energy, Dr Jitendra Singh, said that the Bill strengthens regulatory oversight while keeping nuclear safety, national sovereignty, and public accountability non-negotiable.

The Minister further added that the legislation consolidates provisions of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, while granting statutory status to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). He noted that bringing the regulator into the parent law enhances, rather than dilutes, nuclear governance and aligns India with global best practices.

Addressing concerns over nuclear safety, Dr Singh said that safety standards remain unchanged and continue to follow the principle of “safety first, production next.” He outlined a stringent inspection framework, including quarterly inspections during construction, biannual inspections during operation, five-yearly licence renewals, and expanded powers for the now statutory AERB, with oversight aligned to International Atomic Energy Agency norms.

He further informed the House that nuclear plants in the country are located away from seismic fault zones and that radiation levels at facilities such as Kudankulam, Kalpakkam, Rawatbhata and Tarapur are significantly below internationally prescribed limits. There is no scientific evidence linking Indian nuclear plants to cancer risks, he added.

Clarifying concerns over privatisation, the Minister said that private participation would be permitted only in defined exploration and civilian activities under strict regulatory conditions. Uranium mining beyond prescribed limits, spent fuel management, and strategic materials including fissile material and heavy water will remain under exclusive government control.

On liability provisions, Dr Singh said that the Bill introduces graded liability caps to facilitate participation by smaller investors without compromising victim compensation. In cases where damages exceed operator liability, compensation will be covered through government-backed mechanisms and international conventions. The definition of nuclear damage has also been expanded to include environmental damage.

The Bill also provides for the creation of an Atomic Energy Redressal Commission to offer faster grievance redressal for citizens, without restricting access to civil courts or higher judicial remedies.

Responding to concerns over sovereignty and foreign influence, the Minister said that international best practices would be adopted only where suitable to domestic conditions, without compromising strategic autonomy. He clarified that the legislation applies strictly to civilian nuclear energy, with uranium enrichment limited to reactor-grade requirements.

Highlighting the broader applications of nuclear science, Dr Singh pointed to its growing role in healthcare, agriculture, food preservation, and cancer treatment, citing advances in nuclear medicine at institutions such as the Tata Memorial Centre.

Outlining long-term capacity targets, the Minister said that the country currently has nearly 9 GW of nuclear power capacity, with plans to reach 22 GW by 2032, 47 GW by 2037, 67 GW by 2042 and 100 GW by 2047. He noted that nuclear power would play a critical role in meeting future energy demand driven by digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence, given its ability to provide round-the-clock clean energy.

Concluding the debate, Dr Singh said that the SHANTI Bill reflects the country’s scientific maturity and preparedness to expand nuclear energy responsibly, guided by safety, transparency, and national interest.