Union Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh on Tuesday delivered a detailed reply in the Lok Sabha during the debate on the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025, addressing concerns raised by Members across party lines. The Minister asserted that the proposed legislation modernises India’s nuclear governance framework while retaining and strengthening core safety, security and accountability mechanisms that have underpinned the sector since the Atomic Energy Act, 1962.
Modernising Nuclear Governance Without Compromising Safety
Dr. Jitendra Singh explained that the SHANTI Bill consolidates existing nuclear laws into a single, contemporary legal framework, aligned with present-day technological, economic and energy realities. A key reform under the Bill is granting statutory status to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), which had so far functioned under an executive order.
He emphasised that safety norms, security controls over fissile material, spent fuel and heavy water, along with periodic inspections, will continue to remain under strict government oversight, irrespective of any private sector participation. Clarifying apprehensions, the Minister stated that private entities will have no control over sensitive nuclear materials, and management of spent fuel will remain entirely with the government, as has been the long-standing practice.
Liability Framework: Protection of Victims Remains Intact
Addressing liability concerns—a central theme of the debate—Dr. Jitendra Singh categorically stated that the Bill does not dilute compensation to victims of nuclear incidents. He explained that operator liability has been rationalised through graded caps linked to reactor size, a move aimed at facilitating newer technologies such as small modular reactors (SMRs).
The Minister highlighted that compensation mechanisms remain multi-layered, comprising:
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Operator liability,
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A proposed Nuclear Liability Fund backed by the Government of India, and
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Additional international compensation through India’s participation in the Convention on Supplementary Compensation (CSC).
He clarified that while supplier liability has been removed after careful consideration of global best practices and advancements in reactor safety, provisions related to negligence and penal accountability continue to be enforceable under existing laws.
Private Participation Essential for Clean Energy Goals
Rejecting the view that the Bill undermines public sector capability, Dr. Jitendra Singh pointed to a nearly 170 per cent increase in the Department of Atomic Energy’s budget over the past decade and a doubling of installed nuclear capacity since 2014. He noted that despite these gains, India’s nuclear share in the energy mix remains modest compared to global peers.
The Minister stressed that scaling up nuclear power is critical to meeting rising energy demand from data centres, healthcare, manufacturing and industry, alongside renewable sources. The SHANTI Bill, he said, enables responsible private and joint venture participation to bridge resource constraints, reduce project gestation periods and support India’s ambition of achieving 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047, without compromising national security or public interest.
Broader Applications and Environmental Accountability
Placing the Bill in a wider national context, Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted that nuclear energy extends beyond electricity generation, playing a vital role in cancer treatment, agriculture, industrial applications and research. Notably, the SHANTI Bill for the first time explicitly includes environmental and economic damage within the definition of nuclear harm.
With dedicated investments announced for small modular reactors, as well as enhanced focus on research and innovation, the Minister said the Bill seeks to create an enabling ecosystem for clean, reliable and round-the-clock energy as India approaches the centenary of its Independence.
Conclusion
Concluding his reply, Dr. Jitendra Singh affirmed that the SHANTI Bill reflects India’s long-standing commitment to the peaceful use of atomic energy, while adapting governance structures to contemporary needs. By strengthening regulation, safeguarding public interest and enabling calibrated private participation, the proposed law aims to position nuclear power as a key pillar of India’s clean energy transition and long-term energy security.
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Source: PIB
