Introduction: Why the SHANTI Bill, 2025 Matters
The SHANTI Bill, 2025 has emerged as a landmark reform in India’s nuclear energy governance. During the Lok Sabha debate, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh addressed concerns cutting across party lines—ranging from safety and liability to private participation and national security.
The Bill seeks to replace and consolidate older nuclear laws, modernising India’s nuclear framework to align with technological advancements, clean-energy goals, and Viksit Bharat @2047. Importantly, it attempts to balance energy security with safety, accountability, and sovereign control.
What Is the Core Objective of the SHANTI Bill, 2025?
According to the government, the SHANTI Bill aims to:
Modernise India’s nuclear legal framework
Enable clean, reliable base-load power
Strengthen safety, security, and accountability mechanisms
Support India’s target of 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047
The Bill positions nuclear energy as a critical complement to renewables, especially where uninterrupted power supply is essential.
Statutory Status to Nuclear Regulator: A Major Reform
One of the most significant changes under the SHANTI Bill, 2025 is granting statutory backing to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB).
Why This Matters
Earlier, the AERB functioned through an executive order. Statutory status:
Enhances regulatory independence
Improves transparency and public trust
Aligns India with global nuclear governance standards
This reform directly addresses long-standing concerns over regulatory credibility.
Safety and Security: What Remains Non-Negotiable
Dr. Jitendra Singh categorically clarified that safety standards are not diluted under the SHANTI Bill.
Government Retains Control Over
Fissile material
Heavy water
Spent nuclear fuel
Nuclear security inspections
Key Assurance
Private entities will not control sensitive nuclear materials. Spent fuel management continues to remain entirely with the government, consistent with established practice.
Nuclear Liability Framework: What Changes and What Does Not
Nuclear liability has been one of the most debated aspects of the SHANTI Bill, 2025.
What the Bill Introduces
Graded operator liability caps based on reactor size
Support for new technologies, especially Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
A multi-layered compensation mechanism
Multi-Layered Liability Structure
Operator liability
Government-backed Nuclear Liability Fund
International compensation through India’s participation in the
Convention on Supplementary Compensation
Critical Safeguard
For the first time, environmental and economic damage are explicitly included within the definition of nuclear harm. Victim compensation, according to the government, is not diluted.
Why Supplier Liability Has Been Removed
The removal of supplier liability has attracted criticism. The government’s rationale includes:
Alignment with global nuclear practice
Advances in reactor safety technology
Reducing investment uncertainty
Important Clarification
Supplier immunity is not absolute. Penal provisions, criminal liability, and negligence-related actions remain enforceable under existing laws.
Why Private Participation Is Being Allowed
Addressing fears of excessive privatisation, Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted key facts:
170% increase in the Department of Atomic Energy budget over the last decade
Installed nuclear capacity has doubled since 2014
Nuclear energy still forms a modest share of India’s energy mix
Why the Government Sees Private Role as Necessary
Rising demand from data centres, healthcare, and industry
Renewable energy alone cannot provide 24×7 base-load power
Private and joint ventures can:
Bridge financial and technological gaps
Reduce project gestation periods
Accelerate clean-energy transition
Beyond Electricity: Wider Uses of Nuclear Energy
The SHANTI Bill, 2025 recognises nuclear energy’s role beyond power generation, including:
Cancer treatment and medical isotopes
Agricultural applications
Industrial use
Scientific research and innovation
The Bill explicitly supports peaceful use of atomic energy and investments in Small Modular Reactors.
Government’s Overall Position on the SHANTI Bill, 2025
According to Dr. Jitendra Singh, the SHANTI Bill:
Balances energy security, safety, and accountability
Enables responsible private participation
Retains sovereign control over critical nuclear domains
Aligns with India’s Viksit Bharat @2047 vision
Exam-Ready Key Takeaways
SHANTI Bill, 2025 modernises India’s nuclear legal framework
AERB receives statutory status for the first time
Safety and control over sensitive materials remain with the State
Liability framework is multi-layered, not diluted
Private participation is limited, regulated, and strategic
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Conclusion
The SHANTI Bill, 2025 represents a calibrated reform rather than a radical departure. While it opens the door to regulated private participation, it firmly retains state control over safety, security, and accountability. As India pursues long-term clean-energy goals, the Bill attempts to balance sovereign responsibility with modern energy demands—a balance that will remain central to India’s nuclear future.
