Centre tables SHANTI Bill in Lok Sabha; opens nuclear power sector to private players
Bill allows Indian and foreign firms to build, run nuclear plants
Operators to face penalties in case of nuclear accidents
Compensation linked to plant size, not extent of damage
SHANTI Bill to replace Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and CLND Act, 2010

The Centre on Monday (December 15, 2025) introduced the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha, marking a major policy shift aimed at incentivising private sector participation - both Indian and foreign - in nuclear power generation.

The proposed legislation seeks to allow private companies to build and operate nuclear power plants, while simultaneously imposing stringent accountability measures on operators. Under the Bill, operators will be penalised in the event of a nuclear accident, with compensation to be determined based on the scale and capacity of the nuclear plant operated, rather than solely on the extent of damage caused.

The SHANTI Bill proposes to replace India’s existing nuclear framework, including the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act, 2010, with a consolidated law designed to modernise regulation and attract investment while maintaining safety oversight.

Government sources said the Bill aims to strike a balance between expanding clean energy capacity, ensuring nuclear safety, and mobilising private capital to meet India’s long-term energy and climate goals.