Passage of the SHANTI Bill, 2025

The Lok Sabha passed the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025 on December 17, 2025. Despite opposition demands to refer the Bill to a parliamentary panel, it was approved and is now set for discussion in the Rajya Sabha.

Key Concerns and Discussions

• Private Sector Participation: There was a debate on whether the Bill's timing coincided with interest shown by industrial groups like Adani in entering the nuclear sector. The government denied any connections.
• Removal of Liability Clause: The Bill proposes removing a clause from the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, which allowed nuclear plant operators to claim compensation from suppliers for equipment-related accidents.

Arguments and Clarifications

• Opposition cited past criticism regarding the absence of supplier liability, questioning the change in stance.
• Minister explained the change was necessary due to evolving technology and the introduction of small modular reactors.

Financial Implications

• Liability Cap: The Bill proposes capping liability for plant operators at ₹3,000 crore, which raised concerns given the high costs of past nuclear disasters like Fukushima and Chernobyl.
• Minister highlighted the role of a nuclear insurance pool and the proposed Nuclear Liability Fund to cover additional costs.

Strategic Goals

• The Bill is part of a broader strategy to privatize the nuclear sector, boost clean energy, improve grid stability, and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.
• Plans include scaling nuclear power capacity to 100 GW by 2047 and launching a ₹20,000-crore mission to develop small modular reactors.