News: Parliament has cleared the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy in India (SHANTI) Bill, despite Opposition demands for amendments and review by a Select Committee

SHANTI Bill-Importance

India’s nuclear sector has remained fully State-controlled since 1956, governed by:

• Atomic Energy Act, 1962
• Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010

These laws:

• Restricted private and foreign participation
• Imposed strict supplier liability, discouraging foreign firms

To meet energy security, climate goals, and baseload power needs, Parliament has now passed the SHANTI Bill.

What has changed in nuclear liability?

Liability Caps under SHANTI

• Large plants (3,600 MW): ₹3,000 crore
• Medium plants: ₹1,500 crore
• SMRs (150 MW): ₹100 crore
• Penalty for severe violations capped at ₹1 crore

Major Change

• Supplier liability completely removed
• Government bears liability beyond operator cap
• Earlier law allowed operators to sue suppliers for defective equipment.

What SHANTI Does?

• Opens nuclear sector to private participation
• Ends NPCIL monopoly
• Introduces PPP model

Regulatory Changes

• AERB- Atomic Energy Regulatory Board gets statutory status
• Accountable to Parliament

Government View

• Energy security
• Baseload power
• Net Zero 2070
• Global nuclear cooperation

Opposition Concerns

• Public safety risk
• Diluted accountability
• RTI dilution
• Labor rights weakened

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