Lok Sabha Question Hour: Dr. Jitendra Singh Says Nuclear Sector Reforms and Shanti Act Measures Will Accelerate Rare Earth Development

1. At a Glance

• Union MoS (IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh told Lok Sabha (11 Feb 2026) that recent nuclear sector reforms, including the SHANTI Act, will accelerate Rare Earth Elements (REE) development [S1].
• Convergence point of three flagship policy threads — Atomic Energy reform, the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), and private participation in strategic mining [S1][S2][S3].
• UPSC relevance: GS-III (Economy/Resources/Sci-Tech), critical minerals supply chain, EV–semiconductor–defence linkages [S1].

2. Why in the News

• 11 Feb 2026 Lok Sabha reply by Dr. Jitendra Singh tying SHANTI Act measures and nuclear reforms to faster REE development; flagged 5,000-tonne rare earth magnet target by 2030 and nationwide exploration in beach sands and hard-rock terrains [S1].
• Follows enactment of the SHANTI Bill, 2025 (introduced Lok Sabha 15 Dec 2025; later passed by both Houses) replacing the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 [S3][S4].

3. Background & Evolution

• 1962: Atomic Energy Act vested nuclear sector exclusively with the Centre/DAE [S4].
• 2010: Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act enacted post-Indo-US nuclear deal [S4].
• 2023: MMDR Act amended — 24 strategic minerals (incl. REEs, lithium) opened to private sector auctioning by the Centre [S2].
• Jan 2025: National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) launched — 7-yr horizon (2024-25 to 2030-31), outlay ₹16,300 cr + ~₹18,000 cr PSU investment [S2].
• Dec 2025: SHANTI Bill, 2025 introduced; replaces 1962 + 2010 Acts; opens nuclear to Indian private companies and JVs [S3][S4].

4. Core Static Facts

• Topic Ministries: Department of Atomic Energy (DAE); Ministry of Mines (NCMM); Ministry of Earth Sciences (offshore exploration) [S1][S2].
• Nodal PSU for REE: IREL (India) Ltd — Rare Earth Extraction Plant at Chatrapur, Odisha; Refining Unit at Aluva, Kerala [S2].
• REE Resource: 1,11,845 tonnes in-situ REO explored in hard-rock terrains of Balotra district, Rajasthan (DAE) [S2].
• Magnet Production Target: 5,000 tonnes by 2030 of rare earth permanent magnets [S1].
• Wind energy linkage: Nd/Dy magnets to support scaling wind capacity from 42 GW → 140 GW by 2030 [S2].
• SHANTI Act key features: statutory recognition to AERB; central licensing to Indian companies/JVs (foreign cos excluded); Atomic Energy Redressal Advisory Council for appeals; graded operator liability (2nd Schedule) [S3].
• Critical minerals auction: 100+ blocks under MMDR amendment [S2].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic - REE imports dominated by China; domestic 5,000 t magnet capacity to cut import dependence for EV motors, wind turbines, semiconductors, defence [S1][S2]. - ₹16,300 cr NCMM outlay + ₹18,000 cr PSU co-investment to anchor downstream value chain [S2].

Strategic / Geopolitical - Aligns with Quad Critical Minerals cooperation and de-risking from Chinese REE chokepoints [S1]. - Civil-nuclear opening signals investment trust to partners (US, France, Russia) without ceding to foreign ownership [S3].

Scientific / Technological - Exploration shift to offshore polymetallic nodules (cobalt, Ni, Mn, REEs) under MoES [S2]. - SHANTI Act extends framework to non-power applications — health, agri, isotopes [S3].

Legal / Constitutional - Atomic energy is Union List Entry 6; SHANTI Act keeps central control while permitting private operators [S3]. - Repeals 1962 & 2010 Acts — first major nuclear legislative overhaul in 6 decades [S3][S4].

Administrative - AERB gets statutory (not just executive) backing — addresses long-standing IAEA concern on regulator independence [S3]. - Graded liability replaces flat operator cap of CLNDA, 2010 [S3].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• Jan 2025: NCMM approved by Cabinet [S2].
• 15 Dec 2025: SHANTI Bill tabled in Lok Sabha by Dr. Jitendra Singh [S4].
• Dec 2025: SHANTI Bill passed by Lok Sabha; subsequently cleared by Rajya Sabha [S3].
• 11 Feb 2026: Lok Sabha Question Hour statement on REE acceleration via nuclear reforms [S1].

7. Prelims Hooks

• SHANTI = Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear energy for Transforming India [S3].
• SHANTI Act replaces Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 [S3].
• Foreign companies excluded from nuclear licensing under SHANTI Act; JVs with Indian private allowed [S3].
• SHANTI Act gives statutory status to AERB [S3].
• Appellate body: Atomic Energy Redressal Advisory Council [S3].
• NCMM launched January 2025; tenure 2024-25 to 2030-31; outlay ₹16,300 cr [S2].
• DAE-explored REO resource: 1,11,845 tonnes in Balotra, Rajasthan [S2].
• IREL plants: Chatrapur (Odisha) extraction, Aluva (Kerala) refining [S2].
• Rare Earth Permanent Magnet target: 5,000 t by 2030 [S1].
• Wind capacity goal driving REE demand: 140 GW by 2030 [S2].
• MMDR Amendment 2023 opened 24 strategic minerals (incl. REE, Li) to private auction by Centre [S2].
• Atomic Energy is on Union List (Entry 6) of Seventh Schedule [S3].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III: "Indian Economy — Infrastructure: Energy"; "Science & Technology — indigenisation"; "Resource mobilisation".
• GS-II: "Government policies and interventions"; statutory bodies (AERB).
• Possible stems: 1. "Critically examine how the SHANTI Act, 2025 reshapes India's civil nuclear governance and its spillover on critical mineral security." 2. "Discuss the role of the National Critical Mineral Mission in reducing strategic import dependence in EV and defence value chains." 3. "Opening of strategic minerals and nuclear energy to private participation marks a paradigm shift in India's resource sovereignty. Discuss."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), 2025 — parent policy for REE supply [S2].
• MMDR (Amendment) Act, 2023 — enabled private mining of REE/Li [S2].
• IREL (India) Ltd & KMML — operational PSUs in beach sand monazite chain [S2].
• Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) — statutory backing under SHANTI [S3].
• Quad Critical Minerals Initiative — geopolitical hedge vs China [S1].
• Polymetallic Nodules / Deep Ocean Mission — MoES offshore REE angle [S2].
• Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 — repealed; compare with SHANTI liability [S3].
• Small Modular Reactors (SMR) policy — complementary nuclear reform.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• SHANTI Act does NOT permit foreign companies to own/operate plants — only Indian companies/JVs [S3].
• NCMM is under Ministry of Mines, not MoEFCC or DST [S2].
• REE are NOT radioactive by definition — but monazite-hosted REE in India falls under DAE because monazite contains thorium [S2].
• SHANTI Act repeals both the 1962 Atomic Energy Act and the 2010 CLND Act — aspirants often think only the 1962 Act is replaced [S3].
• Magnet target is 5,000 tonnes by 2030, not 50,000 t; tied to permanent magnets, not REE oxide output [S1].
• Balotra REO figure (1,11,845 t) is from hard-rock, separate from beach-sand monazite reserves [S2].

11. Sources

• [S1] PARLIAMENT QUESTION: RARE EARTH RESERVES IN THE COUNTRY — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2238892 — (tier 1)
• [S2] India's Critical Mineral Mission / Rare Earth Strategy — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2222413 ; https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2120525 — (tier 1)
• [S3] SHANTI Bill, 2025 (PRS legislative brief) — https://prsindia.org/billtrack/the-sustainable-harnessing-and-advancementof-nuclear-energy-for-transforming-india-bill-2025 — (tier 1)
• [S4] Dr. Jitendra Singh Tables SHANTI Bill, 2025 in Parliament — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2204236 ; Rajya Sabha passes SHANTI Bill — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2206211 — (tier 1)