How Crucial Was the SHANTI Bill for Nuclear Plant Security? Experts Weigh In

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha has approved the Sustainable Harnessing of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, a landmark legislation aimed at strengthening India’s nuclear energy regulations. The bill legally codifies the security of nuclear power plants, marking a significant shift from past practices where safety measures largely depended on government directives and post-incident actions.

Opening Doors for Private Sector Participation
The SHANTI Bill not only enhances security but also opens opportunities for private companies to participate in India’s nuclear energy sector. With an eye on meeting the country’s clean energy requirements by 2047, the government has emphasized that the bill establishes a robust, continuous regulatory framework rather than relying on one-time approvals. The legislation also introduces a practical civil liability system for nuclear damages and gives the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) statutory authority.

Challenges Under Previous Frameworks
Earlier, nuclear safety oversight was primarily guided by government authority and administrative rules, with no legally binding safety obligations for each stage of a plant’s lifecycle. The AERB’s approvals for construction, commissioning, and operation were largely administrative. Even the 2010 Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act focused more on compensation and insurance after incidents, rather than proactive prevention. As one official explained, “Previous laws treated safety as a responsibility after damage, not as an active management requirement.”

The SHANTI Bill changes this by differentiating between “operational approval” and “safe operational approval,” requiring both a license and an independent safety authority. Any activity involving radiation risk—construction, operation, transportation, storage, decommissioning, or waste management—cannot proceed without explicit safety clearance.

Why the Bill Was Needed
The legislation consolidates regulation, enforcement, civil liability, and dispute resolution into a single law, reducing legal complexities and ensuring predictable compliance. Officials highlighted that AERB now has clear legal authority to inspect facilities, investigate incidents, issue binding directives, and suspend or revoke operations that fail to meet safety standards. Even high-risk scenarios with no actual harm are now legally recognized as nuclear incidents, significantly enhancing accident prevention.

Expert Perspective
Anujesh Dwivedi, Partner at Deloitte India, explained that under the previous legal framework, it would have been difficult for nuclear energy to replace thermal power in the long term. “India has added only about 8GW of nuclear capacity over decades. To reach 100GW by 2047 and 300GW or more by 2070, substantial reforms were required, which these regulations attempt to address,” he said.

The SHANTI Bill represents a major step toward creating a safer, legally robust, and growth-oriented nuclear energy ecosystem in India, balancing security, liability, and the nation’s clean energy ambitions.