Explained | 5 key provisions in SHANTI Bill that opens India’s nuclear power sector to private players
- IBEF
- December 16, 2025
A significant milestone for India’s civil nuclear power market has been marked with the introduction of the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Bill (SHANTI Bill), 2025, by the Union Government. This is the first time since Independence that private participation is being permitted in India’s tightly regulated nuclear energy sector. The Bill enables private companies and joint ventures to build, own, operate, and decommission nuclear power plants and reactors, signalling a significant shift in India’s atomic governance framework. To establish a single, unified legal regime, the SHANTI Bill proposes amendments to the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, streamlining licensing procedures, regulatory oversight, and liability provisions. While the private sector is expected to participate across the nuclear value chain, including project development, construction, and related infrastructure, strategic functions such as nuclear material production, heavy water manufacturing, and radioactive waste management will remain under the control of the Department of Atomic Energy.
The Bill allows private companies to invest up to 49% in nuclear power projects. A dedicated atomic disputes tribunal is also envisaged to enhance regulatory certainty. Experts note that moving away from a government-only monopoly to a mixed governance model could attract capital, encourage adoption of advanced technologies such as small modular reactors, and reinforce nuclear energy’s role as a reliable, low-carbon baseload power source supporting India’s long-term industrial growth.
Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.
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