Bill seeking to open nuke sector to pvt players introduced in LS

The Centre on Monday introduced a bill in Parliament that proposes the grant of licences to private companies to operate nuclear power plants, the removal of an existing contentious liability clause for suppliers of fuel and technology, as well as the rationalisation of the levels of payouts by operators in case of accidents.

- Saubhadra Chatterji

The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India bill, 2025, or SHANTI Bill, aims to boost investments in the nuclear power sector to help India achieve its ambitious target of 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047. The bill, which was introduced by Union minister for state for atomic energy Jitendra Singh, will be sent to a standing committee.

The bill permits any company or joint venture to construct, own, operate, or decommission a nuclear power plant or reactor within the country after receiving a licence that requires a safety authorisation on radiation exposure. The bill says “any department of the Government of India or any institution or authority or corporation established or owned or controlled by such government, any government company, any other company, a joint venture among any of the aforesaid; or any other person expressly permitted by the central government, by notification, to set up such facilities or undertake such activities,” will be eligible to apply fora licence.