New Delhi:India’s Parliament has approved legislation allowing private companies to enter the country’s tightly controlled civil nuclear power sector, marking a significant shift in energy policy. The lower house passed the bill Wednesday, followed by approval in the upper house Thursday. Presidential assent is pending, a formality expected to bring the law into force.
The government framed the move as a major step toward accelerating clean energy growth, while opposition parties warned it could dilute existing safety and liability safeguards.
The legislation, known as the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTi), aims to modernize the nation’s nuclear framework and accommodate technological, economic, and energy realities. Junior Minister Jitendra Singh, responsible for the Department of Atomic Energy, emphasized that the bill retains and strengthens core safety, security, and regulatory standards.
Supporters say the legislation signals a decisive break from decades of state monopoly in nuclear energy, potentially enabling India to become a global player in small modular reactors and other advanced technologies. Critics caution that the move carries risks, including potential health hazards, that may have long-term consequences.
India currently generates over 75 percent of its electricity from fossil fuels and is one of the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitters. The government has pledged more than $2 billion in recent months toward nuclear research and related initiatives. Its goal is to install 100 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2047, enough to power nearly 60 million homes annually.
Energy experts note that nuclear power, unlike solar or wind, can provide consistent electricity without carbon emissions, making it a critical tool in reducing reliance on coal, oil, and gas. Yet public skepticism and the small size of India’s current nuclear sector pose challenges to achieving these ambitious targets.
