UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PARLIAMENT QUESTION : SAFEGUARDS UNDER SHANTI ACT

Q1. With reference to the SHANTI Act, 2025, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Its full form is the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Act, 2025.
  2. It repeals and replaces the Atomic Energy Act, 1962.
  3. It repeals and replaces the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010.
  4. It repeals and replaces the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 1 and 4

Q2. Which one of the following was the principal statute — now repealed by the SHANTI Act, 2025 — that had originally vested exclusive control over all atomic energy activity in the Central Government and underpinned the State's monopoly in the nuclear sector?

  • A. The Atomic Energy Act, 1962
  • B. The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010
  • C. The Electricity Act, 2003
  • D. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

Q3. Under the SHANTI Act, 2025, the Central Government licence that is the gateway condition for a private entity to enter the nuclear sector is administered by which of the following?

  • A. Department of Atomic Energy
  • B. Atomic Energy Regulatory Board
  • C. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
  • D. Ministry of Power

Q4. Under the SHANTI Act, 2025, which one of the following bodies is the apex regulator that has now been granted statutory status and whose safety authorisation is mandatory for every nuclear facility?

  • A. Atomic Energy Regulatory Board
  • B. Atomic Energy Commission
  • C. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited
  • D. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre

Q5. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, made a statutory body under the SHANTI Act, 2025, functions under the administrative control of which of the following?

  • A. Department of Atomic Energy
  • B. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
  • C. Ministry of Science and Technology
  • D. Ministry of Power

Q6. Consider the following statements comparing the nuclear civil-liability regime under the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 with that under the SHANTI Act, 2025. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The CLND Act, 2010 provided the operator a statutory right of recourse against suppliers, whereas the SHANTI Act, 2025 does not retain such a statutory supplier recourse.
  2. The CLND Act, 2010 imposed a single flat cap on operator liability, whereas the SHANTI Act, 2025 introduces a graded operator liability linked to reactor capacity.
  3. Both the CLND Act, 2010 and the SHANTI Act, 2025 abolish the principle of no-fault liability of the operator.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. With reference to the civil-liability framework of the SHANTI Act, 2025, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Operator liability is graded from ₹100 crore to ₹3,000 crore depending on the installation.
  2. Liability follows the strict, no-fault principle and is channelled to the operator.
  3. The statutory right-of-recourse clause against suppliers is removed, aligning with the Convention on Supplementary Compensation (CSC).
  4. The Act retains a single flat liability cap of ₹1,500 crore applicable uniformly to all reactors.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q8. With reference to the legislative passage of the SHANTI Bill, 2025, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 2025.
  2. The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha before it was passed by the Rajya Sabha.
  3. The Bill received the assent of the President in December 2025.
  4. The Bill was introduced in and first passed by the Rajya Sabha as a Money Bill.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 3 and 4 only
  • D. 2, 3 and 4

Q9. With reference to the Nuclear Energy Mission, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It was announced in the Union Budget 2025-26.
  2. It targets 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047.
  3. It was launched with a financial outlay of ₹2,00,000 crore (₹2 lakh crore).
  4. It aims to develop at least five indigenously designed Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) by 2033.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 3

Q10. The Department of Atomic Energy, which administers the SHANTI Act, 2025, functions under the direct charge of which one of the following?

  • A. The Prime Minister
  • B. The Minister of Power
  • C. The Minister of Science and Technology
  • D. The Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Q11. India's civil nuclear cooperation flowing from the Indo-US '123 Agreement' — the context in which the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 was enacted — is operationalised on the technical and programmatic side principally through which of the following?

  • A. Department of Atomic Energy
  • B. Ministry of External Affairs
  • C. Ministry of Power
  • D. Ministry of Coal