SHANTI Bill, 2025
(Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India)
Context
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Introduced in Lok Sabha (2025) by the Ministry of Science & Technology.
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Aims to open India’s nuclear power sector to private (Indian & foreign) participation.
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Replaces:
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Atomic Energy Act, 1962
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Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act, 2010
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Part of India’s strategy to:
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Expand clean energy
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Improve grid stability
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Achieve Net Zero by 2070
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Need for the Bill
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Nuclear energy currently contributes:
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1.5% of installed power capacity
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3% of electricity generation
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Barriers under previous laws:
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Monopoly of NPCIL
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Stringent supplier liability under CLND Act
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Regulatory opacity
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Requirement to scale nuclear capacity from 8.8 GW → 100 GW by 2047
Key Features of SHANTI Bill
(a) Private Sector Participation
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Ends NPCIL’s monopoly over operation of nuclear power plants.
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Allows:
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Indian private companies
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Foreign investors (subject to safeguards)
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(b) Revised Civil Liability Framework
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Restricts operator’s right to claim compensation from suppliers.
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Aligns India’s liability regime with global nuclear liability conventions.
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Addresses concerns of foreign suppliers over CLND Act, 2010.
(c) Operator Liability Limits
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Introduces graded liability caps based on:
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Size of nuclear plant
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Caps penalties:
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Maximum penalty of ₹1 crore, even in case of “severe breach”
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Provides legal certainty and risk mitigation for investors.
(d) Strengthened Nuclear Regulation
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Grants statutory status to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB).
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Regulatory structure made answerable to Parliament.
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Enhances:
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Safety
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Security
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Safeguards
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Quality assurance
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Emergency preparedness
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(e) Innovation & Technology Push
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Enables:
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Amendments in patent laws
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Greater scope for nuclear R&D
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Supports:
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Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
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Indigenous reactor designs
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Linked Government Initiatives
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₹20,000 crore mission for Small Modular Reactors (Union Budget)
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Expansion of:
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220 MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs)
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Long-term target:
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100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047
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Advantages of SHANTI Bill
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Boosts clean and stable base-load energy
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Reduces dependence on fossil fuels
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Attracts foreign direct investment (FDI)
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Improves India’s:
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Energy security
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Climate commitments
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Technological innovation
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Aligns India with global nuclear governance norms
Concerns & Criticism
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Liability cap may:
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Dilute polluter pays principle
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Raise concerns over victim compensation
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Private participation raises questions on:
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Safety oversight
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Accountability
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Requires strong regulatory independence and transparency
Way Forward
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Ensure:
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Strong parliamentary oversight
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Transparent regulatory enforcement
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Balance:
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Investor confidence
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Public safety
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Strengthen disaster preparedness and public communication
Conclusion
The SHANTI Bill, 2025 marks a paradigm shift in India’s nuclear energy governance by opening the sector to private participation, rationalising liability laws, and strengthening regulation—making nuclear power a central pillar of India’s clean energy transition and net-zero pathway.
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