UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PARLIAMENT QUESTION: PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN NUCLEAR ENERGY
Q1. The SHANTI Act, 2025 received the assent of the President of India in which of the following months?
- A. February 2025
- B. December 2025
- C. March 2026
- D. July 2026
Q2. Under the SHANTI Act, 2025, the graded operator-liability slabs and the overall per-incident liability cap are to be specified/notified by which of the following?
- A. The Central Government
- B. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board
- C. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited
- D. The Nuclear Damage Claims Commission
Q3. Consider the following statements comparing the civil nuclear liability regime under the SHANTI Act, 2025 with that under the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA), 2010:
1. CLNDA 2010 capped operator liability at a single flat amount of ₹1,500 crore, whereas the SHANTI Act introduces graded slabs ranging from ₹100 crore to ₹3,000 crore.
2. The SHANTI Act retains, in the same form, the supplier's right of recourse that existed under Section 17(b) of CLNDA 2010.
3. The highest liability slab under the SHANTI Act (₹3,000 crore) is double the flat cap that applied under CLNDA 2010.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- CLNDA 2010 capped operator liability at a single flat amount of ₹1,500 crore, whereas the SHANTI Act introduces graded slabs ranging from ₹100 crore to ₹3,000 crore.
- The SHANTI Act retains, in the same form, the supplier's right of recourse that existed under Section 17(b) of CLNDA 2010.
- The highest liability slab under the SHANTI Act (₹3,000 crore) is double the flat cap that applied under CLNDA 2010.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q4. Consider the following statutes:
1. Atomic Energy Act, 1962
2. Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010
3. Electricity Act, 2003
4. Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection) Rules, 2004
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as laws repealed by the SHANTI Act, 2025?
- Atomic Energy Act, 1962
- Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010
- Electricity Act, 2003
- Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection) Rules, 2004
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1, 2 and 4
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 2, 3 and 4
Q5. The supplier's 'right of recourse' provision — which allowed an operator to claim against a supplier for defective equipment and was seen as a major deterrent to foreign reactor suppliers — was contained in which of the following?
- A. Section 17(b) of the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010
- B. Section 3 of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962
- C. The Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage
- D. The Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection) Rules, 2004
Q6. The SHANTI Bill, 2025 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 15 December 2025 by which Union Minister?
- A. Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Science and Technology
- B. Shri Manohar Lal, Minister of Power
- C. Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas
- D. Shri Bhupender Yadav, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Q7. Consider the following statements about the passage of the SHANTI Bill, 2025:
1. It was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 15 December 2025.
2. It received Presidential assent on 21 December 2025.
3. It repeals the Atomic Energy Act, 1962.
4. It was passed by the Rajya Sabha before it was taken up by the Lok Sabha.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- It was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 15 December 2025.
- It received Presidential assent on 21 December 2025.
- It repeals the Atomic Energy Act, 1962.
- It was passed by the Rajya Sabha before it was taken up by the Lok Sabha.
- A. 4 only
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 3 only
- D. 1 and 4
Q8. Consider the following statements about India's Nuclear Energy Mission and related targets:
1. India aims for 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047.
2. The nuclear expansion is aligned with India's net-zero emissions target for 2070.
3. The Union Budget 2025-26 earmarked ₹20,000 crore for the development of Small Modular Reactors.
4. At least five indigenously designed Small Modular Reactors are targeted to be operational by 2030.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- India aims for 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047.
- The nuclear expansion is aligned with India's net-zero emissions target for 2070.
- The Union Budget 2025-26 earmarked ₹20,000 crore for the development of Small Modular Reactors.
- At least five indigenously designed Small Modular Reactors are targeted to be operational by 2030.
- A. 4 only
- B. 1 and 4
- C. 2 and 3
- D. 3 only
Q9. As per the Government's July 2026 reply in Parliament, which one of the following must occur first before any private party's licence application under the SHANTI Act, 2025 can be considered?
- A. Notification of the Rules framed under the SHANTI Act, 2025
- B. India's ratification of the Convention on Supplementary Compensation
- C. Conferring of statutory status on the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board
- D. Repeal of the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010
Q10. Under the SHANTI Act, 2025, how many broad categories of activity are reserved exclusively for the Central Government and barred to private players?
- A. Two
- B. Three
- C. Four
- D. Five
Q11. Consider the following statements comparing India's nuclear liability position with the international Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC):
1. India deposited its instrument of ratification of the CSC with the IAEA in 2016.
2. Under the CSC, the operator's right of recourse against suppliers is broader than that which India provided under the CLNDA, 2010.
3. The CSC seeks to supplement compensation through public funds contributed by contracting parties on the basis of their installed nuclear capacity.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- India deposited its instrument of ratification of the CSC with the IAEA in 2016.
- Under the CSC, the operator's right of recourse against suppliers is broader than that which India provided under the CLNDA, 2010.
- The CSC seeks to supplement compensation through public funds contributed by contracting parties on the basis of their installed nuclear capacity.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3