The central government has introduced the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025, to overhaul the legal framework governing nuclear energy in India.
The bill aims to repeal the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, replacing them with a unified legislation aligned with India’s present and future energy requirements. The SHANTI Bill lays out a roadmap to scale up nuclear capacity to 100 GW by 2047 and introduces a revised licensing and safety regime for nuclear operators, a new civil liability framework and institutional mechanisms such as the Nuclear Damage Claims Commission and an empowered Atomic Energy Regulatory Board. The Bill also streamlines regulations for peaceful uses of nuclear technology in healthcare, agriculture, industry, and research while encouraging greater private sector participation. The bill also defines licensing requirements and safety authorisation norms for entities engaged in nuclear energy production and application. It exempts research and development and innovation activities from licensing obligations.