Parliament’s passage of the SHANTI Bill, 2025, introduces a historic shift in India’s nuclear energy laws by allowing private sector participation in nuclear power and modernising the legal structure governing nuclear energy.

The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill replaces older statutes such as the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 with a modern consolidated legal framework. It enables private companies to build, operate, and participate in nuclear power plants and related technologies under regulatory oversight.

Key reforms include granting statutory status to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), aligning liability norms with international standards, and facilitating investment in advanced nuclear technologies and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) to help India meet clean energy targets while retaining government control over sensitive strategic functions.

The bill has drawn both support for boosting energy security and clean-energy capacity and criticism from some groups over safety, liability and public oversight concerns. The reform is seen as part of India’s broader energy transition strategy aimed at sustainable growth and international cooperation.