29 January 2026·PIB

PARLIAMENT QUESTION: NUCLEAR SAFETY AND SECURITY

In this note

1. At a Glance

Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) is the sole authority for nuclear & radiation safety of civilian facilities in India, operating an Integrated Management System (IMS) that unifies safety, radiation protection, and nuclear security regulation [1][2].
Constituted on 15 November 1983 under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962; reports to the Atomic Energy Commission (not directly to DAE for safety mandate) [2][3].
High Prelims salience (codes, treaties, year-pegs) and Mains relevance (GS-III internal security/S&T; GS-II international treaties).

DAE reply to Parliament Question on Nuclear Safety and Security, 29 January 2026, restating AERB's IMS framework, comprehensive safety codes, and licensing regime [1].
AERB approved restart of Tarapur Atomic Power Station Unit 2 on 7 May 2026 after refurbishment, and cleared Major Equipment Erection at Kudankulam (KKNPP) Units 5 & 6 on 30 April 2026 [2].

1962: Atomic Energy Act enacted — parent statute [3].
15 Nov 1983: AERB constituted under Section 27 of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 [2].
2005: Amendment to CPPNM adopted internationally; India ratified the Amendment in 2016 [4].
2014: India placed civilian facilities under IAEA safeguards via India-specific safeguards agreement [4].
2024 (21 May): India's statement at IAEA ICONS 2024 reaffirmed nuclear security commitments [4].

Regulator: Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), HQ Mumbai [2].
Parent Ministry: Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), under PMO [1].
Enabling Act: Atomic Energy Act, 1962; security backed by CLNDA, 2010 (Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act) [3].
Framework: Integrated Management System (IMS) consolidating regulatory + management processes; benchmarks to IAEA safety standards [1][2].
IAEA safeguards: 31 Indian nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards after KKNPP-5 & 6 inclusion [4].
Radiation Emergency Response Centres (RERCs): 25 operational across India [4].
International instruments India is party to: CPPNM + 2005 Amendment (ratified 2016); ICSANT; UNSCR 1540 (domesticated); Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS) [4].
Counter Nuclear Smuggling Team (CNST): inter-ministerial body, recently reconstituted [4].

Legal / Constitutional: Atomic Energy is Union List Entry 6 (Schedule VII); AERB derives powers from Atomic Energy Act, 1962; CLNDA 2010 governs operator liability [3].
Geopolitical / Strategic: India outside NPT but in NSG waiver regime (2008); voluntary IAEA safeguards on civilian facilities; CPPNM Amendment ratification (2016) signals non-proliferation credentials [4].
Scientific / Technological: AERB issues safety codes, guides, standards for siting, design, construction, commissioning, operation, decommissioning of NPPs [1][2].
Administrative: Licensing across siting → construction → commissioning → operation stages; continuous safety review and regulatory inspections [2].
Ethical / Governance: Concerns over AERB's independence — it administratively reports to AEC; a proposed Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority (NSRA) Bill, 2011 to make it statutorily independent lapsed [general institutional context, not cited].

29 Jan 2026: DAE Parliament Question reply on Nuclear Safety & Security [1].
7 May 2026: AERB clears TAPS Unit 2 restart post-refurbishment [2].
30 Apr 2026: AERB permission for Major Equipment Erection at KKNPP Units 5 & 6 [2].
21 May 2024: India's statement at IAEA ICONS 2024 by Amb. Shambhu S. Kumaran [4].
KKNPP Units 5 & 6 added under IAEA safeguards (total 31) [4].

AERB constituted: 15 November 1983 [2].
AERB established under Atomic Energy Act, 1962 [3].
Framework used: Integrated Management System (IMS) [1].
India ratified CPPNM Amendment in 2016 [4].
Indian facilities under IAEA safeguards: 31 (post KKNPP-5 & 6) [4].
25 Radiation Emergency Response Centres in India [4].
Counter Nuclear Smuggling Team (CNST) — inter-ministerial [4].
TAPS Unit 2 restart approval: 7 May 2026 [2].
KKNPP 5&6 Major Equipment Erection permission: 30 April 2026 [2].
AERB completed 40 years in 2023 [2].
IAEA ICONS 2024 — Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Security [4].
India brought UNSCR 1540 and ICSANT into domestic law [4].
Civilian nuclear safety responsibility: solely AERB (not DAE, not NPCIL) [1].

GS-III: Internal Security — challenges of nuclear/radiological terrorism; Science & Technology — indigenisation; Disaster Management — radiological emergencies.
GS-II: International treaties/conventions (CPPNM, CNS, ICSANT, UNSCR 1540); India-IAEA relations.
Question stems:
"Discuss the institutional framework for nuclear safety regulation in India. Is AERB sufficiently independent?" (GS-III)
"Examine India's compliance with international nuclear security instruments despite being outside the NPT." (GS-II)
"Evaluate the adequacy of CLNDA, 2010 in balancing victim compensation with supplier interests." (GS-II/III)

CLNDA, 2010 — operator liability regime; tied to Indo-US 123 Agreement.
NSG, MTCR, Wassenaar, Australia Group — India's export-control club memberships.
NPCIL & BHAVINI — operators of PHWRs and PFBR.
Bharat Small Reactor / SMR programme — Budget 2024-25 announcement.
India-US 123 Agreement (2008) — gateway to civil nuclear cooperation.
IAEA Additional Protocol (in force for India 2014).
CTBT & NPT — India's non-signatory rationale.
Disaster Management Act, 2005 — radiological emergency role of NDMA.

AERB is under DAE administratively but reports to AEC for safety — not under MoEFCC or MHA.
Civil nuclear safety lies solely with AERB, not NPCIL (NPCIL is operator, not regulator).
India is not a member of NPT/CTBT but is party to CPPNM, CNS, ICSANT.
CPPNM Amendment was ratified by India in 2016, not 2005 (2005 is when the Amendment was adopted).
AERB year: 1983, not 1962 (1962 is the Act).
Atomic Energy is Union List Entry 6, not Concurrent List.