Doors open for private companies in nuclear energy sector in India, SHANTI bill introduced in Parliament

New Delhi . The government has introduced the Sustainable Exploitation and Upgradation of Nuclear Energy Bill, 2025 (Peace Bill, 2025) in the Lok Sabha on Monday, allowing private participation in the field of nuclear energy. The government has said that this bill is going to bring the biggest reform in the country’s nuclear energy sector after 1962. On Monday, Minister of State for Atomic Energy, Dr. Jitendra Singh included it in the supplementary agenda of the Lok Sabha and presented it on the table of the House.

According to the government, the main objective of the bill is to increase the safe and sustainable use of nuclear energy, so that apart from power generation, it can get wide benefits in areas like health (cancer treatment), agriculture (crop protection and radiation), water purification, industry, environmental protection and scientific innovation. The government has also said that the biggest feature of the bill is that it allows the private sector (domestic and foreign companies) to invest in nuclear energy projects. The provisions being made in the bill are also expected to achieve the ambitious target of 100 GW nuclear capacity in India by 2047, especially through small modular reactors (SMRs).

What’s in the bill?
This bill is going to repeal the Atomic Energy Act 1962 and the Civil Nuclear Damage Liability Act 2010 and create a new, unified law. The bill also provides for establishment of an independent nuclear safety regulator, amendment in rules of liability, special tribunal for dispute settlement and filing of claims on any kind of damage.

environmental friendly
The government has said that the bill is part of the vision of ‘Developed India 2047’ and it aims to promote climate-friendly development by establishing nuclear technology as a clean, stable and sustainable energy source. The bill reduces dependence on fossil fuels by strengthening energy security and the government has described it as an important step towards contributing to the net-zero emissions target (2070).