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SHANTI Nuclear Bill
SHANTI Nuclear Bill
Context: The passage of the SHANTI Nuclear Bill, 2025 comes at a time when India is accelerating nuclear capacity to meet its net-zero commitments and rising base-load power demand.
What are the concerns associated with the SHANTI Bill, 2025?
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Dilution of Sovereign Control over Nuclear Sector
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- The SHANTI Bill amends the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 to allow private entities across the nuclear fuel cycle—from mining to reprocessing. Traditionally, India followed a state-monopoly model due to nuclear energy’s strategic, dual-use and security sensitivities.
- Concern: Fragmented private participation increases risks of regulatory lapses, diversion and profit-driven compromises. Countries like France and Russia continue strong state dominance, highlighting India’s departure from global best practices.
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Weakening of Nuclear Liability Framework
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- The Bill retains the 300 million SDR liability cap (~₹3,900 crore), unchanged since 2010, despite inflation and larger reactors. After this cap, liability shifts to the government.
- Concern: This creates public underwriting of private risk, violating the “polluter pays” principle. The Fukushima disaster (costs >$180 bn) shows the mismatch between real damages and capped liability. India’s CLNDA, framed post-Bhopal, originally ensured supplier accountability—now narrowed.
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Erosion of Supplier Accountability
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- The operator’s right of recourse against suppliers is largely confined to contracts or intentional acts.
- Concern: Design flaws or manufacturing defects may escape accountability, undermining deterrence. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has earlier flagged weak risk allocation in nuclear contracts.
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Regulatory Independence and Executive Overreach
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- The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) remains under executive control, despite repeated calls—by the Standing Committee on Science & Technology—for an independent regulator.
- Concern: Conflict of interest arises as the same authority promotes, licenses and insures nuclear expansion.
Restricted Access to Justice and Transparency: Only government-authorised officials can initiate legal action; communities and states are excluded. Broad powers to exempt facilities and restrict information weaken precautionary and transparency principles, contrary to global nuclear governance norms.
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The Source’s Authority and Ownership of the Article is Claimed By THE STUDY IAS BY MANIKANT SINGH
