SHANTI Bill 2025 Cleared, Opening Nuclear Sector to Private Participation

The Lok Sabha has passed the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025, marking a significant shift in India’s nuclear energy policy. The bill was cleared during the Winter Session amid a walkout by opposition parties. Introduced by Minister of State for the Department of Atomic Energy, Jitendra Singh, the legislation represents a move away from exclusive government control towards a more inclusive framework aimed at accelerating nuclear capacity expansion. A key feature of the SHANTI Bill is the opening of the nuclear power sector to private players, which until now was reserved solely for government-owned entities. The legislation establishes a more pragmatic civil nuclear liability regime to reduce investment risks and grants statutory status to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), strengthening independent regulatory oversight. These changes are intended to enhance investor confidence while maintaining high safety standards. The bill aligns with India’s long-term clean energy and climate goals, particularly the target of achieving 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047. It introduces updated safety protocols, provides for the creation of a specialised nuclear tribunal to address disputes, and revises liability provisions to support faster project execution. Nuclear energy is positioned as a critical component of India’s low-carbon transition and energy security strategy. While allowing private enterprises and joint ventures to establish and operate nuclear facilities and transport nuclear fuel, the legislation retains key strategic activities under government control. Sensitive operations such as uranium enrichment, spent fuel reprocessing, and heavy water production will remain exclusively with the Centre. The government will also continue to exercise strict oversight over radioactive materials and radiation-emitting equipment to ensure safety and national security.