Parliament Passes SHANTI Atomic Energy Bill; PM Modi Calls It a Transformational Moment for India
- MGMMTeam
- 30 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Parliament on Thursday passed the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025, marking a historic shift in India’s nuclear energy policy. The legislation, cleared by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha during the Winter Session, aims to modernise the country’s atomic energy framework and accelerate the expansion of clean and reliable power generation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the passage of the bill, describing it as a “transformational moment for India’s technology landscape.” He said the reform will strengthen India’s energy security and support future-ready sectors such as advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and green industries.
Private Sector Entry into Nuclear Power
A key feature of the SHANTI Bill is the opening up of India’s civil nuclear power sector to private participation. For the first time, Indian private companies will be allowed to build, own, operate, and decommission nuclear power plants, activities that were earlier restricted to government-owned entities.
The government believes that allowing private investment will help overcome funding constraints, speed up project execution, and significantly boost nuclear capacity in the coming decades. Officials have maintained that strategic control and national security interests will continue to remain firmly with the state.
Strengthening the Regulatory Framework
The new law replaces outdated provisions of earlier legislation with a streamlined and contemporary framework. One of the most important changes is granting statutory status to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), enhancing its authority to regulate safety standards, radiation protection, and compliance across nuclear facilities.
According to the government, the bill ensures that safety remains non-negotiable even as the sector expands, with stricter licensing norms and clearer accountability mechanisms for operators.
Updated Liability Provisions
The SHANTI Bill also revises India’s nuclear liability regime, aligning it more closely with international norms. The revised framework places responsibility primarily on the plant operator and sets defined liability limits in case of a nuclear incident. The government has argued that this change removes long-standing hurdles that discouraged investment and technology collaboration in the past.
However, opposition parties have raised concerns over whether the new provisions sufficiently protect public interest and victims in the event of an accident, calling for greater scrutiny and safeguards.
Targeting 100 GW Nuclear Capacity by 2047
The legislation is seen as central to India’s long-term energy roadmap, which aims to scale up nuclear power capacity to around 100 gigawatts by 2047. Nuclear energy is being positioned as a stable, low-carbon source that can complement renewable energy and provide round-the-clock power to a growing economy.
Government sources say the expansion will help India reduce its dependence on fossil fuels while meeting climate commitments and rising electricity demand.
Political Debate and Public Response
While the ruling side has termed the bill a bold and necessary reform, the opposition has expressed reservations over safety, regulation, and the role of private players in a sensitive sector. Trade unions and civil groups have also voiced concerns, indicating that the debate over nuclear energy reforms is likely to continue beyond Parliament.
The MGMM Outlook
India has taken a decisive step towards modernizing its nuclear energy sector with the passage of the SHANTI Atomic Energy Bill, 2025. This landmark legislation opens the door for private sector participation in building, operating, and decommissioning nuclear power plants, a domain previously restricted to government entities. By allowing private investment, the government aims to accelerate project timelines, enhance nuclear capacity, and foster technological advancement while maintaining strategic control and national security. The bill also grants statutory authority to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, ensuring safety standards, radiation protection, and accountability mechanisms remain stringent even as the sector expands.
The legislation revises India’s nuclear liability framework, aligning it with international norms, which addresses past investment hurdles and facilitates technology collaboration. With the long-term target of achieving 100 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2047, the SHANTI Bill positions nuclear power as a reliable, low-carbon complement to renewable energy sources. While it has sparked political debate over safety and regulatory concerns, the reform signals India’s commitment to energy security, clean energy growth, and technological leadership, setting a transformative course for the nation’s power sector.
(Sources: India TV News, BusinessToday, MoneyControl)