New Delhi, December 19 (IANS). The Sustainable Exploitation and Development of Atomic Energy (Peace) Bill, 2025 has been passed by both the Houses of Parliament, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Its objective is to make the country self-reliant in the nuclear sector and meet India’s 2047 clean energy goals.
The proposed legislation aims to create an enabling environment for clean and reliable energy, while also maintaining our long-standing commitment to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
It also symbolizes India’s commitment to global best practices in nuclear governance.
The Bill enables responsible private and joint venture partnerships to overcome resource constraints, reduce construction period of projects and achieve the national target of 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047 without compromising national security or public interest.
This Bill consolidates and rationalizes the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act. Along with this, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board has been given statutory status, making it an integral part of the Basic Law.
The government clarified that this does not weaken regulatory oversight, but strengthens it. This reflects India’s strong commitment to adopt global best practices in nuclear governance.
Through this bill, the nuclear sector has been opened up for privatization, with the aim of achieving self-reliance and meeting India’s 2047 clean energy goals.
The new bill will involve private partners under defined conditions for exploration activities. The government will have full rights to mine uranium beyond the prescribed limit.
Similarly, management of spent fuel will also remain under the supervision of the government under clearly defined long-term storage and handling protocols. The government will continue to have tight control over strategic materials such as source material, fissile material and heavy water.
Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, said in the Lok Sabha that the nuclear safety standards remain completely unchanged and intact and are governed by the same strict principles – ‘Safety First, Production Second’ – enshrined in the Atomic Energy Act of 1962.
He said that in nuclear plants, quarterly inspection during the construction phase, biennial inspection during the operation period and renewal of license every five years is mandatory. Additionally, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, now having statutory status, has been granted expanded powers and the monitoring system is in line with International Atomic Energy Agency standards. Dr Singh also assured the House that India’s nuclear plants are located away from seismic fault zones and radiation levels in Indian reactors are many times below the prescribed global safety limits.
The proposed legislation is deeply linked to India’s long-term energy and climate goals and outlines the country’s roadmap to reduce carbon emissions by 2070.
At the operational level, the Bill sets out provisions for licensing and safety authorization for specified persons involved in the production or use of nuclear energy, as well as clarifying grounds for suspension or cancellation.
It aims to regulate the use of nuclear and radiation technologies in sectors such as healthcare, food and agriculture, industry and research, while research, development and innovation activities are exempted from licensing requirements.
The Bill proposes a revised and practical civil liability framework for nuclear damage, provides statutory status to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, and strengthens mechanisms related to safety, security, safeguards, quality assurance and emergency preparedness.
It provides for the formation of new institutional arrangements including the Atomic Energy Prevention Advisory Council, appointment of Claims Commissioners and a Nuclear Damage Claims Commission for cases involving serious nuclear damage, with the Electricity Appellate Tribunal acting as the appellate authority.
The proposed legislation seeks to balance nuclear energy expansion with safety, accountability, and public interest, and place nuclear energy within broader national efforts toward energy security and a low-carbon future.
–IANS
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