PARLIAMENT QUESTION: EXPANSION OF NUCLEAR ENERGY

1. At a Glance

Rajya Sabha written reply (05 Feb 2026) by MoS Dr. Jitendra Singh (PMO / DAE) clarifying that the SHANTI Act permits any person to undertake R&D, design and innovation in nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without a licence [S1].
Signals the operationalisation of India's biggest nuclear-sector legal overhaul since 1962, central to the Nuclear Energy Mission target of 100 GW by 2047 [S3].
UPSC relevance: GS-II (Statutory bodies, Parliament), GS-III (Energy, S&T, environment).

PIB release dated 05 Feb 2026 flags continuing parliamentary scrutiny of risk-sharing mechanisms and financial instruments under the SHANTI Act [S1].
Follows Presidential assent on 21 Dec 2025 to the SHANTI Bill, 2025 after passage by Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha [S2].

Atomic Energy Act, 1962 historically reserved nuclear activity for the State; Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 addressed liability post-Indo-US 123 Agreement.
Union Budget 2025-26 announced a Nuclear Energy Mission with the 100 GW by 2047 target [S3].
SHANTI Bill, 2025 introduced and passed by Parliament; assented 21 Dec 2025 — modernises legal framework, opens private participation [S2].
Feb 2026 Rajya Sabha Q&A elaborates licence-free R&D provision and risk-sharing posture [S1].

Full name: Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, 2025 [S2].
Parent ministry: Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), under PMO [S1].
Regulator: Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) — granted statutory status under the Act (previously an executive body since 1983) [S2].
Private sector scope: build-own-operate nuclear power plants; fabricate nuclear fuel; R&D in nuclear S&T for peaceful purposes — under Central Government licence + AERB safety authorisation [S2].
Licence-free activity: R&D, design, innovation in nuclear energy/radiation for peaceful uses by any person [S1].
Capacity trajectory: ~9 GW (current) → 22 GW (2032) → 47 GW (2037) → 67 GW (2042) → 100 GW (2047) [S3].
SMR target: at least 5 indigenously designed Small Modular Reactors operational by 2033 [S2].
Nuclear share goal: ~10% of India's total energy by 2047 [S3].
Aligns with Net-Zero by 2070 commitment under UNFCCC [S3].

Economic — risk-sharing mechanisms and financial instruments being designed to mitigate high upfront costs and long-term liabilities of nuclear projects [S1]; private capital unlocked for fuel cycle and generation [S2].
Legal / Constitutional — overhauls 1962 State monopoly; gives AERB statutory standing, addressing IAEA peer-review (IRRS) concerns on regulatory independence [S2].
Scientific / Technological — licence-free R&D regime expected to accelerate SMR, AMR, and thorium-cycle innovation; targets 5 indigenous SMRs by 2033 [S2].
Environmental — nuclear positioned as clean, dispatchable baseload supporting decarbonisation to Net-Zero 2070 [S3].
Geopolitical / Strategic — eases foreign partner participation (post-123 Agreement bottleneck); IAEA safety-standard alignment retained via AERB [S3].
Governance — Rajya Sabha oversight via written replies ensures parliamentary accountability over a historically opaque sector [S1].

Feb 2025: Union Budget announces Nuclear Energy Mission; ₹20,000 crore SMR R&D outlay flagged [S3].
2025: SHANTI Bill introduced and passed by both Houses [S2].
21 Dec 2025: Presidential assent to SHANTI Act [S2].
05 Feb 2026: Rajya Sabha written reply clarifies licence-free R&D and risk-sharing framework [S1].

SHANTI = Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India [S2].
SHANTI Act received Presidential assent on 21 December 2025 [S2].
Parent department: DAE under PMO, not Ministry of Power or MNRE [S1].
Minister answering: MoS Dr. Jitendra Singh, holding PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions [S1].
AERB gets statutory status under SHANTI Act (was executive since Nov 1983) [S2].
Nuclear capacity goal: 100 GW by 2047; interim 22 GW by 2032 [S3].
Indigenous SMRs: at least 5 operational by 2033 [S2].
Current installed nuclear capacity: ~9 GW [S3].
Nuclear to contribute ~10% of India's total energy by 2047 [S3].
Licence NOT required for R&D, design, innovation for peaceful uses under SHANTI Act [S1].
Private sector may build-own-operate nuclear plants and fabricate fuel under Central Govt licence + AERB authorisation [S2].
Net-Zero target year: 2070 (UNFCCC) [S3].

GS-III: Infrastructure — Energy; Science & Technology — indigenisation; Environment — clean transition.
GS-II: Statutory & regulatory bodies (AERB); Parliament — accountability mechanisms (Question Hour).
Plausible stems: 1. "The SHANTI Act, 2025 represents a paradigm shift from State monopoly to regulated pluralism in India's nuclear sector." Discuss. 2. Examine the role of risk-sharing mechanisms in making nuclear energy commercially viable in India. 3. Critically assess whether India's 100 GW by 2047 nuclear target is achievable without dilution of safety standards.

AERB is under DAE, NOT Ministry of Power or MoEFCC.
SHANTI Act is a 2025 Act (assented Dec 2025); easily confused with Budget 2025-26 Nuclear Energy Mission announcement — they are linked but distinct.
Licence-free provision applies only to R&D/design/innovation for peaceful uses, NOT to building or operating reactors (which require licence + AERB safety authorisation) [S1][S2].
100 GW target year is 2047, not 2030 or 2070 (2070 is Net-Zero) [S3].
The reply was in Rajya Sabha, by an MoS, not by the PM or a Cabinet Minister of DAE (DAE is held by the PM).

[S1] PARLIAMENT QUESTION: EXPANSION OF NUCLEAR ENERGY — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2223792 — (tier: 1)
[S2] Rajya Sabha passes SHANTI Bill 2025 / SHANTI Bill 2025 PIB releases — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2206598 ; https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2206211 — (tier: 1)
[S3] A New Chapter in India's Nuclear Journey (Factsheet) / Nuclear Energy Mission — https://www.pib.gov.in/FactsheetDetails.aspx?Id=150617 ; https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2115857 — (tier: 1)