In order to dramatically expand nuclear power, India is bringing the private sector into a nuclear legal framework traditionally dominated by the state. In this regard, India passed the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill in December 2025. The SHANTI Act aims to support India’s long-term objective of achieving 100 GWe of nuclear capacity by 2047.

The Act nullifies and replaces the Atomic Energy Act of 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act of 2010. Before the SHANTI Act, India’s atomic energy sector was governed by the Atomic Energy Act, which controlled research, development and use of nuclear materials in addition to regulating responsible nuclear operations. To create the liability framework for nuclear incidents, the CLND Act was passed in addition to the Atomic Energy Act. Although India considered SHANTI Bill a significant change, a step towards energy development and modernization, it has substantial consequences. The debate has focused on investment, liability and energy security while the overlooked issue is nuclear security. Considering India’s poor nuclear safety record, this policy change is alarming. Whether a country with poor nuclear safety and security record would be able to accommodate private sector in nuclear domain. Since the 1990s, there have been frequent issues with radioactive material theft and........

© Pakistan Observer