Harnessing nuclear energy: Bill seeks to address key investor concerns

Changes in the provision on operator liabilities can be expected to encourage investment

The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday, opens the pathway for the entry of the private sector into producing nuclear power by responding to major concerns that have hindered investment in the area for 15 years. The umbrella Bill replaces the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, which prohibited private participation in nuclear energy, and more crucially the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA), 2010, which had legislated for operators’ right of recourse on suppliers of nuclear equipment in the case of accidents. A government