India is navigating a complex energy landscape, driven by the twin demands of fuelling rapid economic expansion and meeting ambitious climate goals. In response, the Narendra Modi government is making a significant strategic pivot, doubling down on nuclear power with a clear and bold target: boosting capacity from just under 9 GW today to an impressive 100 GW by 2047. The goal is for this capacity addition to enable India to achieve the net-zero emissions target by 2070, apart from guaranteeing long-term energy independence.

For years, a key bottleneck hindering faster nuclear growth, particularly involving international partners, has been India’s distinct liability framework. The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA) of 2010, specifically its provision allowing legal claims against equipment suppliers in the event of an incident, created significant hesitation among global nuclear vendors. This perceived risk, diverging from international norms that typically channel liability solely to the plant operator, effectively stalled major collaborations envisioned under pacts like the US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement, even though they were hailed as landmark breakthroughs.

Recognising this impediment, a crucial shift is now in the works. The Union government is actively considering amendments aimed at capping supplier liability, potentially bringing India’s legal regime more in line with global standards. This move, possibly slated for discussion in Parliament’s upcoming monsoon session, is widely seen as essential groundwork to unlock the foreign investment and technology needed for the massive planned scale-up. It signals a pragmatic approach designed to make India........

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