The SHANTI Bill, 2025 (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India) is a landmark piece of legislation passed by the Indian Parliament in December 2025.
It fundamentally overhauls India’s nuclear energy framework by repealing the outdated Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010.
Key Objectives and Provisions
- Private Sector Participation: For the first time since Independence, private companies are permitted to build and operate nuclear power plants under strict government oversight.
- Regulatory Independence: The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) is granted full statutory status, making it a truly independent regulator with the power to issue licenses and safety orders.
- Foreign Investment: The Bill allows up to 49% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in certain nuclear activities to attract global technology and capital.
- Small Modular Reactors (SMRs): It prioritizes the deployment of advanced technologies like SMRs, which are easier to build and safer to operate than traditional large-scale reactors.
- Liability Reform: It modifies the nuclear liability regime by capping operator liability (up to ₹3,000 crore) and removing direct supplier liability, aligning India with international norms to encourage foreign participation.
- Strategic Control: While opening the sector, the Central Government retains exclusive control over sensitive activities such as uranium enrichment and spent fuel handling.
- Timeline and Status
- Introduced: Table in the Lok Sabha on December 15, 2025.
- Passed by Lok Sabha: December 17, 2025.
- Passed by Rajya Sabha: December 18, 2025.
- Controversies and Concerns
- Opposition leaders and environmental activists have raised concerns regarding:
- Safety Accountability: The removal of supplier liability is seen by critics as a “free pass” for equipment manufacturers.
- Public Safety: Concerns about the adequacy of the liability cap for victims in the event of a major nuclear incident.
- Scrutiny: Opposition members staged a walkout during the vote, demanding the Bill be sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for deeper review.
- The government maintains the Bill is essential for reaching 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047 and achieving India’s net-zero climate goals.