India’s new Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill 2025 allows for the first time limited private participation in the nuclear energy sector in the country under regulatory oversight.
Existing legislation – the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 (1962 Act) and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 (2010 Act) – gave the government strict controls over nuclear energy production and research in India.
The 1962 Act set controls over the development and use of nuclear materials, which was later relaxed through amendments that allowed for government companies and joint ventures to generate nuclear power, while the authorities maintained oversight.
The 2010 Act introduced a no-fault liability that ensured compensation in case of nuclear incidents, clarifying responsibilities and prioritising public safety.
The 2025 bill repeals previous legislations and consolidates them into one with modernised provisions. Under the new bill, private companies will be able to undertake plant operations, power generation and equipment manufacturing. They must obtain prior safety authorisation from the regulatory authority for all activities involving radiation exposure.
The bill also gives statutory recognition to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, established under the 1962 Act to protect the public from nuclear energy and ionising radiation risks.
The state minister for science and technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, tabled the bill in parliament. Several media reports said both houses of parliament had approved the bill, which also had been granted the assent of India’s president Narendra Modi. For it to take effect, the new bill needs to be notified in the official gazette with the enforcement date.
