New Delhi, December 28 (IANS). The Peace Bill is one of the biggest scientific reforms of the Modi government. This bill has broken the obstruction that has been going on in the nuclear sector for the last 60 years. Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh said this on Sunday.
He said that the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India i.e. Peace (SHANTI) Bill is a historic reform in India’s nuclear sector. This will enable better use of nuclear power for peaceful, clean and sustainable energy. Also, there will be no compromise on security, sovereignty of the country and public interest.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said that it was difficult to even think about such a big reform for the last six decades. It is the result of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s thinking and leadership that old fears and obstacles were removed and India’s policies were changed according to the good examples of the world.
He said that the hallmark of Prime Minister Modi’s third term is big and strong reforms, with special focus on science, innovation and entrepreneurship. While earlier reforms were known for political and strategic decisions, Modi 3.0 will be remembered for changes in sectors that decide India’s technological and economic future.
Talking about India’s nuclear policy, the Minister said that since the time of Dr. Homi Jahangir Bhabha, India’s nuclear program was designed for development, health and energy security. The Peace Bill takes this thinking forward and allows for the expansion of nuclear energy for clean power, medical uses, and research.
Dr. Singh said that in the era of AI, quantum technology and data based economy, there is a continuous need for electricity. In such a situation, nuclear energy is very important, because it provides reliable electricity day and night, whereas some renewable energy sources are not always available.
He said that as India moves away from coal and other fossil fuels, nuclear energy will support advanced technology, digital infrastructure and strategic sectors.
The minister said that in 2014, India’s nuclear power capacity was about 4.4 GW, which has now increased to about 8.7 GW. The government aims to increase it to about 100 GW by 2047, which will provide about 10 percent of the country’s electricity from nuclear energy and help in meeting the net zero target.
He also stressed on the growing role of nuclear science in the health sector and said that the use of nuclear medicine and isotopes in cancer diagnosis and treatment is increasing, which is saving the lives of many people. It is clear from this that today nuclear science is emerging as an important force for human welfare and social progress.
Referring to future preparations, the Minister said that India is also moving towards small modular reactors. These are suitable for densely populated cities, industrial areas and new economic zones and will protect the environment along with energy security.
He said that the Peace Bill has received wide support from scientists, industry, startups and people associated with innovation. This shows that there is a consensus in the country on the need to modernize India’s nuclear sector. This bill reflects the thinking of Modi Government 3.0, in which the target has been set to make India a developed country by 2047 through science-based policies.
–IANS
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