Why in News
CEA (Central Electricity Authority) Chairperson Ghanshyam Prasad announced in April 2026 that India targets expanding nuclear power capacity from the current 8.8 GW to 100 GW by 2047 — an over 11-fold increase. The legal foundation for this is the SHANTI Act (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India) — passed by Parliament in late 2025 — which replaces the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA), 2010, and for the first time allows private Indian companies to enter the nuclear power sector.
SHANTI Act — Key Provisions
Full Name
SHANTI = Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India
What It Replaces
| Old Law | Limitation |
|---|---|
| Atomic Energy Act, 1962 | Nuclear sector entirely state-monopoly; no private entry |
| Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 | Supplier liability clause (Section 17b) deterred foreign and domestic investment in nuclear equipment supply |
Key Changes
| Feature | SHANTI Act |
|---|---|
| Private sector | Indian private companies can build, own, operate, decommission nuclear plants |
| FDI | NOT permitted — nuclear remains an Indian-controlled sector |
| Sensitive activities | Uranium enrichment, reprocessing — remain with state entities |
| Liability | Nuclear damage liability regime reformed (CLNDA replaced) |
| Regulator | Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) — independent oversight continues |
| SMRs | Small Modular Reactors specifically enabled |
India’s Nuclear Power — Current Status
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| Current capacity | 8.8 GW (operational) |
| 2047 target | 100 GW |
| Operator (currently) | NPCIL (Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd) — state monopoly until SHANTI |
| Reactors | Primarily PHWRs (Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors) + 2 LWRs |
| Fuel | Uranium (imported + domestic); Thorium (future — Stage 3) |
| Share of electricity | ~3% of India’s total generation |
| Plants | 22 operating reactors at 7 sites |
Three-Stage Nuclear Programme
India has a unique Three-Stage Nuclear Programme (designed by Homi J. Bhabha) to eventually use India’s vast Thorium reserves:
| Stage | Reactor Type | Fuel | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | PHWR (Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor) | Natural Uranium | Operational (22 reactors) |
| Stage 2 | FBR (Fast Breeder Reactor) | Plutonium + Uranium | Prototype FBR at Kalpakkam (under commissioning) |
| Stage 3 | AHWR (Advanced Heavy Water Reactor) | Thorium + U-233 | R&D stage |
India’s Thorium reserves: ~25% of global reserves (~300,000 tonnes) — world’s second largest. This is the long-term rationale for India’s unique nuclear doctrine.
Bharat Small Reactors (BSR) and SMRs
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bharat Small Reactor | 220 MW PHWR-based SMR — designed by NPCIL |
| Purpose | Easier to site (near demand centres); shorter construction time; lower upfront cost |
| Private sector RFP | Issued to ‘visionary Indian industries’ to co-finance and build BSRs |
| SMR global context | Multiple countries (US, UK, Canada, France) racing to commercialise SMRs |
| UPSC significance | SMRs = pathway for private nuclear entry without full-scale plant complexity |
Challenges Ahead
| Challenge | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fuel security | India is not self-sufficient in uranium; imports from Russia, Kazakhstan, Canada, Australia |
| Site acquisition | Identifying and acquiring coastal/riverside land for nuclear plants is contentious |
| Skilled manpower | 100 GW by 2047 requires massive scale-up of nuclear engineers, operators |
| Regulatory capacity | AERB needs strengthening for 10-12 private operators |
| Public acceptance | Kudankulam protests demonstrated local opposition to nuclear plants |
| Construction timelines | Nuclear plants historically face cost overruns and delays globally |
| CLNDA successor | Supplier liability reform must now attract domestic manufacturers of nuclear equipment |
UPSC Relevance
Prelims
- SHANTI Act full form: Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India
- Replaces: Atomic Energy Act 1962 + CLNDA 2010
- Key change: Private Indian companies can enter nuclear sector (no FDI)
- India nuclear capacity: 8.8 GW; target: 100 GW by 2047
- CEA Chairman: Ghanshyam Prasad
- Bharat Small Reactor: 220 MW PHWR-type SMR
- NPCIL: Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd
- Three-Stage programme: PHWR → FBR → AHWR (Thorium)
Mains
- “SHANTI Act marks a paradigm shift in India’s nuclear governance. Examine the opportunities and risks.” (GS3)
- India’s Three-Stage Nuclear Programme and its strategic rationale (GS3)
Facts Corner
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| SHANTI Act | Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India |
| Replaces | Atomic Energy Act 1962 + CLNDA 2010 |
| Private entry | Indian private companies — yes; FDI — no |
| Sensitive activities | Enrichment, reprocessing — remain state-only |
| Current nuclear capacity | 8.8 GW (22 reactors, 7 sites) |
| 2047 target | 100 GW (CEA Chairman Ghanshyam Prasad) |
| Bharat Small Reactor | 220 MW; PHWR-type; NPCIL design |
| Stage 1 | PHWR + natural uranium — operational |
| Stage 2 | FBR + plutonium — Kalpakkam prototype under commissioning |
| Stage 3 | Thorium + U-233 — R&D stage |
| India thorium reserves | ~25% of global reserves; 2nd largest in world |
