Nuclear Safety: SHANTI Act Notified; Rules and Implementation Timeline Yet to Be Announced
The government clarified that no specific timelines have so far been notified for drafting subordinate legislation or implementing various provisions of the Act.
Law Enables Creation of Directorates, Strengthens Nuclear Safety, Security and Civil Liability Framework
New Delhi: The SHANTI Act, 2025 has received the assent of President Droupadi Murmu on December 20, 2025 and has been gazette notified, but the government has not yet announced timelines for framing rules, regulations, policies or for operational implementation of the Act.
Responding to a parliamentary question in the Rajya Sabha, the government clarified that no specific timelines have so far been notified for drafting subordinate legislation or implementing various provisions of the Act.
Provision for Rules and Institutional Mechanisms
The SHANTI Act provides for the drafting of rules, regulations and policies to ensure effective implementation of its provisions. It also empowers the Central Government to establish Directorates, Wings and Divisions for exercising its powers and discharging its functions.
These institutional mechanisms are expected to support:
- Enforcement of nuclear safety and security standards
- Safeguards compliance
- Inter-agency coordination during radiation emergencies
- Fixing accountability on licensees or holders of safety authorisation
Alignment with Civil Nuclear Cooperation Framework
The legislation aligns key civil nuclear cooperation aspects within India’s legal framework to enhance the share of nuclear energy in the country’s energy mix.
The Act is structured to ensure full compliance with national and international commitments relating to:
- Nuclear safety
- Nuclear security
- Safeguards
- Civil liability for nuclear damage
Broader Objectives
The SHANTI Act establishes a comprehensive legal framework for the promotion, development and use of atomic energy and ionising radiation for public welfare.
Its scope covers nuclear power generation as well as applications in healthcare, food, water, agriculture, research, industry, environmental protection and innovation in nuclear science and technology. It also seeks to create a robust regulatory system to ensure safe and secure utilisation of atomic energy resources.
The information was provided in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha by Jitendra Singh.
