The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Bill, 2025 (SHANTI Bill) represents a major reform in India’s civil nuclear sector, positioning nuclear power as a key component of the country’s clean energy transition. Passed by both Houses of Parliament in December 2025, the bill replaces outdated laws such as the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010.
Despite India’s nuclear power capacity doubling since 2014, it still forms a small share of the overall energy mix. The SHANTI Bill aims to scale up nuclear energy to meet climate commitments and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
A landmark feature of the bill is the opening of the nuclear sector to private participation, allowing private companies and joint ventures to construct, own, operate, and decommission nuclear power plants. It grants statutory authority to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) to strengthen safety oversight and licensing.
The bill also consolidates safety, liability, and compensation provisions into a single legal framework, reforms liability rules to attract investment while ensuring public safety, and encourages research and innovation by easing licensing for certain R&D activities.
