Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025

 

SHANTI Bill to allow private sector to make, run nuclear power plants

AIM

The Centre introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday the SHANTI Bill that aims to incentivise private sector participation, both Indian and foreign, into nuclear power production. 

It does this by replacing 

India’s existing laws — the 

• Atomic Energy Act, 1962,
•  Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act, 2010, — 

with the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025.

participation 

by public and private players, including through public-private partnerships and joint venture, and promote the deployment of small modular reactors at scalE 

It also opens the doors for private sector 

‘operators’ into India’s highly restricted atomic energy sector allowing them to 

• operate N power plants,
• 
  
•  import N fuel 
• 
  
• and process it as per Clause 3 of the Bill.

NOW GOV IS allowing them the right 

to build, 

• own, operate or decommission a nuclear power plant or reactor;

•  fabrication of nuclear fuel including conversion,
• 
  
•  refining and enrichment of uranium-235 up to a threshold value
• 
  
•  besides transportation or storage of nuclear fuel or spent fuel, the import, export, acquisition, or possession of nuclear fuel and prescribed equipment, technology/ software for development and production.

atomic energy regulatory structure 

that is answerable to Parliament, removes the Nuclear Power Corporation of India’s monopoly over operating nuclear plants, and 

restricts the instances under which nuclear power plant operators can claim compensation from suppliers of equipment in case of an accident.

 in case of violating the laws 

under the Act, based on the size of the plants they operate, and limits the maximum penalty on them to ₹1 crore even in the case of a “severe breach”.

The Bill proposes 

• civil liability framework for nuclear damage, 
• 
  
• confers statutory status on the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), 
  
  
  
• 
  
• strengthens mechanisms related to safety, security, safeguards, quality assurance and emergency preparedness,” 

TARGET OF INDIA AND PRIVATE SECTORS 

Privatising the nuclear power sector, which currently makes up 1.5% of India’s installed power capacity, and 3% of the electricity produced, 

IT has been on the government’s agenda in recent years to 

• boost clean energy production, 
• 
  
• improve grid stability, 
• 
  
• move towards its 2070 net-zero (zero net-carbon emissions) targets.

This includes scaling-up installed nuclear power 

• to 100 GW, up from the current 8.8 GW, by 2047;

 

• a ₹20,000 crore mission launched in the Union Budget this year to develop ‘small modular reactors’; 
• 
  
• and a slew of customised 220 MW pressurised heavy water reactors.

large-scale innovation  

 

The Bill to provide for the 

• promotion and development of nuclear energy and
• 
  
•  ionising radiation for nuclear power generation, 

application in -  

• healthcare,
•  food, 
• water,
•  agriculture, 
• industry,
• research, 
• environment, 
• innovation in nuclear science and technology,
•  for the welfare of the people of India,and for robust regulatory framework for its safe and secure utilisation and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto" official Parliamentary channel said in a post.

₹30 करोड़ तक की देयता / liability   

शांति बिल 2025 का यह प्रावधान चाहता है कि निजी या गैर-सरकारी परमाणु ऑपरेटर अपनी गलती से होने वाली दुर्घटनाओं के लिए ₹30 करोड़ तक की देयता को कवर करने के लिए बीमा लें, लेकिन सरकारी परमाणु संयंत्रों को यह बीमा लेने की आवश्यकता से छूट दी गई है।

SOURCE THE HINDU