UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Need to strike a balance, says SC on SHANTI Act petition

Q1. With reference to the differences between the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act, 2010 and the SHANTI Act, 2025, consider the following statements: 1. Whereas the CLND Act, 2010 capped operator liability at a flat ₹1,500 crore for reactors above 10 MW, the SHANTI Act introduces a sliding-scale operator cap rising up to ₹3,000 crore. 2. Section 17(b) of the CLND Act gave operators an automatic statutory right of recourse against suppliers, but under the SHANTI Act such recourse is available only through express contract or proven intentional misconduct. 3. Unlike the CLND Act, the SHANTI Act expressly permits private and foreign entities to build, own and operate nuclear power plants in India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Whereas the CLND Act, 2010 capped operator liability at a flat ₹1,500 crore for reactors above 10 MW, the SHANTI Act introduces a sliding-scale operator cap rising up to ₹3,000 crore.
  2. Section 17(b) of the CLND Act gave operators an automatic statutory right of recourse against suppliers, but under the SHANTI Act such recourse is available only through express contract or proven intentional misconduct.
  3. Unlike the CLND Act, the SHANTI Act expressly permits private and foreign entities to build, own and operate nuclear power plants in India.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. The Public Interest Litigation challenging the constitutionality of the SHANTI Act, 2025 was heard in February 2026 by a Supreme Court Bench headed by which one of the following?

  • A. Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna
  • B. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant
  • C. Justice B. R. Gavai
  • D. Justice Joymalya Bagchi

Q3. Under the SHANTI Act, 2025, what is the overall ceiling of liability per nuclear incident expressed in Special Drawing Rights (SDR)?

  • A. 150 million SDR
  • B. 200 million SDR
  • C. 300 million SDR
  • D. 500 million SDR

Q4. With reference to the PIL filed against the SHANTI Act, 2025, consider the following provisions of the Constitution of India that the petition alleges are violated by the Act: 1. Article 14 2. Article 19 3. Article 21 4. Article 31 Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Article 14
  2. Article 19
  3. Article 21
  4. Article 31
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4