PM Modi welcomes passage of SHANTI Bill: Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India

New Delhi, December 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday welcomed the passage of the SHANTI Bill by both Houses of Parliament, describing it as a transformational milestone for India’s technology and clean-energy landscape.

In a message posted on social media platform X, the Prime Minister thanked Members of Parliament for supporting the legislation and said the Bill will play a crucial role in safely powering artificial intelligence, enabling green manufacturing and accelerating the country’s transition towards a clean-energy future.

He said the SHANTI Bill will also open up new opportunities for the private sector and young innovators, creating a favourable environment for investment and innovation.

“The passing of the SHANTI Bill by both Houses of Parliament marks a transformational moment for our technology landscape,” Modi said. “From safely powering AI to enabling green manufacturing, it delivers a decisive boost to a clean-energy future for the country and the world. It also opens numerous opportunities for the private sector and our youth. This is the ideal time to invest, innovate and build in India.”

The government has positioned the SHANTI Bill as a key pillar in India’s long-term strategy to strengthen energy security, support emerging technologies and advance climate goals, while creating a modern, science-based framework to support sustainable growth.

The Bill’s passage comes amid growing emphasis on reliable clean power for next-generation technologies, industrial transformation and India’s broader vision of becoming a developed economy by 2047.

What is the SHANTI Bill?

The SHANTI Bill, 2025—short for Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India—is a landmark legislation that comprehensively modernises India’s nuclear energy governance framework. It replaces two legacy laws—the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010—with a single, integrated legal architecture aligned with India’s current and future clean-energy, technology and climate goals.

The Bill reflects India’s transition from a cautious, state-centric nuclear regime to a science-driven, safety-anchored and investment-ready ecosystem, while retaining sovereign control over strategic assets.

Why was the Bill needed?

India’s nuclear legal framework had remained largely unchanged for over six decades, despite:

• Advances in reactor technology, safety systems and waste management
• India achieving near self-reliance across the nuclear fuel cycle
• The growing need for round-the-clock clean power for AI, data centres, advanced manufacturing and green hydrogen
• Global commitments on net-zero emissions by 2070
• The need to crowd in private sector participation under clear regulatory safeguards

The SHANTI Bill addresses these structural gaps by enabling expansion while strengthening safety, accountability and transparency.

Key objectives of the SHANTI Bill

The legislation is anchored around five strategic objectives:

1. Clean, Reliable Baseload Power
Nuclear energy is positioned as a critical pillar for:

• Decarbonisation
• Grid stability alongside renewables
• Powering energy-intensive digital infrastructure such as AI compute clusters and data centres

2. Regulatory Modernisation
The Bill grants statutory status to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, strengthening:

• Safety oversight
• Licensing and compliance mechanisms
• Emergency preparedness and response systems

3. Enabling Investment and Innovation
The framework allows participation of:

• Public sector undertakings
• Joint ventures
• Select private entities under defined conditions

This opens avenues for capital, technology partnerships and domestic manufacturing without diluting national security safeguards.

4. Rationalised Civil Liability Framework
The Bill introduces a pragmatic civil nuclear liability regime, addressing long-standing concerns that had constrained investment while continuing to protect public interest and victim compensation.

5. Technology Beyond Power Generation
The Bill brings under regulation—while enabling innovation—the use of nuclear and radiation technologies in:

• Healthcare
• Agriculture and food safety
• Industry
• Research and advanced materials

Research, development and innovation activities are exempted from routine licensing to accelerate scientific progress.

How does SHANTI support AI and advanced manufacturing?

The Prime Minister’s reference to “safely powering AI” reflects a critical policy shift.

• AI systems and data centres require uninterrupted, high-density power, which intermittent renewables alone cannot provide
• Nuclear energy offers zero-carbon baseload electricity essential for:
  • AI compute infrastructure
  • Semiconductor fabrication
  • Green steel and aluminium
  • Advanced manufacturing clusters

The Bill therefore integrates nuclear energy into India’s digital and industrial strategy, not just its power strategy.

Waste management and safety assurances

India continues to follow a nearly closed nuclear fuel cycle, under which:

• Spent fuel is reprocessed
• Fissile material is recycled
• High-level waste is vitrified and stored securely

The SHANTI Bill strengthens statutory backing for:

• Waste immobilisation and surveillance
• International Atomic Energy Agency–aligned safety norms
• Long-term environmental protection

To date, India has recorded no public or environmental harm from disposed nuclear waste.

New institutional mechanisms

The Bill provides for:

• An Atomic Energy Redressal Advisory Council
• Appointment of Claims Commissioners
• A Nuclear Damage Claims Commission for severe incidents
• Appellate oversight through the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity

This ensures structured grievance redressal and legal clarity.

Alignment with national and global goals

The SHANTI Bill is closely aligned with:

• Viksit Bharat 2047
• 100 GW nuclear capacity target by 2047
• Net-zero by 2070
• Global clean-energy transition and climate finance frameworks

It also positions India as a responsible contributor to the global nuclear energy ecosystem, not merely a domestic consumer.

The passage of the SHANTI Bill marks:

• A shift from legacy regulation to future-ready governance
• Integration of energy, technology, climate and industrial policy
• Opening of long-term opportunities for youth, startups and private capital
• Strengthening of India’s clean-energy sovereignty

As the Prime Minister noted, it is a moment that signals confidence—to invest, innovate and build in India.