India’s Nuclear Sector set to be opened to private participation as the Lok Sabha passes¹ The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Bill, 2025²

What Does It Mean

With rapidly expanding energy needs and the goal of achieving Net Zero emissions, the SHANTI Bill has been introduced to increase the share of nuclear power to 10 per cent of India’s energy mix. mix.³ The Bill strengthens the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board by granting it statutory backing and clarifies the liability framework for nuclear incidents.⁴ 

Marking a significant policy shift, the Bill opens parts of the nuclear energy sector to private participation for the first time,⁵subject to clearly defined conditions.⁶It also places emphasis on the development of small modular reactors as part of India’s pursuit of a low-carbon and energy-secure future. The revised liability framework seeks to balance adequate compensation for victims with the responsibility of operators, while also fostering an investor-friendly environment.⁷

If enacted, the legislation will repeal the existing Nuclear Laws and replace them with a single consolidated statute governing nuclear power generation, safety regulation, liability and compensation, as well as non-power applications of nuclear and ionising radiation⁸

While the Bill represents a strong push towards India’s clean energy ambitions, concerns related to safety, low liability thresholds⁹and accountability cannot be dismissed as merely exaggerated. As India pursues its clean energy targets and expands nuclear power, safety must remain paramount, and the implications of opening a critical sector such as nuclear energy to private participation warrant careful reconsideration.