The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Nuclear Energy Bill aimed at opening India’s nuclear power sector to private participation, marking a major shift in the country’s long-standing approach to atomic energy. The legislation, formally titled the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, was approved by voice vote even as opposition parties staged a walkout in protest. The Bill will now move to the Rajya Sabha for consideration.
Presenting the government’s case, Minister of State for Atomic Energy Jitendra Singh said the objective was to create an enabling legal framework that attracts investment without compromising national security or public safety. He told the House that the proposed law retains and strengthens safety and security provisions while streamlining the liability framework that has long been cited as a deterrent to private and foreign participation in India’s nuclear sector.
India is seeking to significantly expand the role of nuclear power in its energy mix as part of its clean energy and energy security goals. The government has set a target of achieving 100 gigawatts of nuclear power capacity by 2047, a plan that would require investments estimated at around $214 billion. Officials argue that meeting this ambition is not possible without private capital and global collaboration.
Industry experts have welcomed the move, saying the new framework addresses concerns that have kept private players on the sidelines. Deloitte India partner Anujesh Dwivedi said the legislation is likely to ease apprehensions among global nuclear firms and enable India to leverage advanced technologies and intellectual property for future projects.
The Bill, however, triggered sharp opposition criticism, particularly over changes to nuclear liability provisions. Opposition members argued that the legislation dilutes the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act of 2010, which had extended liability to nuclear equipment suppliers in the event of an accident. They warned that removing supplier liability could undermine safety and accountability.
Responding to these concerns, Singh said liability in the event of a nuclear incident would rest with the operator, who could manage supplier-related risks through contractual arrangements. He also defended the cap on operator liability at ₹3,000 crore, stating that compensation would not be limited to this amount alone, as the government would step in through dedicated funds and international mechanisms if required.
Singh framed the Bill as a response to changing technology and global realities, arguing that India must move beyond siloed approaches if it wants to play a larger international role. He pointed to the emergence of new technologies such as small modular reactors, which the government wants to encourage, and said the broad definition of suppliers under the earlier law had created hesitation and a “silent phobia” among potential collaborators.
The debate in the House underscored deep political divisions over the future of nuclear power in India. Congress MP Manish Tewari accused the government of breaking the 2010 national consensus on nuclear liability and questioned the timing of the Bill, noting that it followed announcements by private conglomerates about entering the nuclear sector. Singh dismissed the suggestion as unfounded and politically motivated.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor described the Bill as a “dangerous leap into privatised nuclear expansion,” warning that commercial interests must not override public safety, environmental protection and justice for potential victims. He argued that the legislation grants excessive discretion while offering insufficient safeguards.
On the treasury benches, BJP MP Shashank Mani defended the Bill, saying it was essential for India’s development goals and for achieving the 100-gigawatt nuclear capacity target. He said bringing in more players would end monopoly and that the legislation clearly outlines safety measures.
Concluding the debate, Singh rejected demands to refer the Bill to a parliamentary committee, saying India must urgently scale up clean energy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and become self-reliant. Invoking the legacy of Homi Bhabha, he said India’s nuclear programme was always intended for peaceful purposes and that the new law reflects the country’s readiness to align with global benchmarks and emerge as a major player in the international nuclear energy landscape.
