India’s nuclear power sector, long cloaked in strategic caution and state monopoly, appears ready for a historic leap. The government’s consideration of allowing up to 49 per cent foreign direct investment in nuclear power plants marks not just a policy shift ~ it signals a deep rethink of how India wants to meet its energy future.

The timing is not incidental. Paired with the proposed easing of liability laws and the long-overdue entry of Indian private players, this new FDI window could transform the nuclear landscape from an insular, slowmoving domain into a vibrant arena of investment and innovation. For a country targeting 100 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2047 ~ up from just over 8 GW today ~ such bold reforms are essential. Nuclear energy is India’s best bet for reliable, round-the-clock clean power, especially as it seeks to phase down coal without stalling growth. Solar and wind are indispensable, but they are also intermittent.........

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