Post by : Maya Rahman

President Droupadi Murmu has officially endorsed the SHANTI Bill, which was recently passed by Parliament during the Winter Session, representing a significant advancement in the civil nuclear energy sector of India. The government confirmed that the President signed the bill on Saturday.

The SHANTI Bill, formally known as the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India, replaces previous legislation such as the Atomic Energy Act of 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act of 2010. The old laws had constrained the expansion of India's nuclear industry.

With the introduction of this new law, private organizations and joint ventures are now permitted to construct, manage, operate, and decommission nuclear power facilities, provided they secure a government license. This reform is poised to enhance private involvement while strengthening India's nuclear infrastructure.

Nevertheless, specific sensitive operations—like uranium and thorium extraction, enrichment, isotopic separation, spent fuel reprocessing, high-level radioactive waste management, and heavy water production—will continue to be managed solely by the central government or its owned enterprises.

The SHANTI Bill aspires to modernize India's civil nuclear domain, stimulate private investment, and boost energy output, while also guaranteeing safety and governmental supervision in essential nuclear activities. This legislative change is set to enhance India's energy security and promote sustainable growth in future decades.

#Global News