New Delhi: The United States has formally welcomed India’s recently passed SHANTI Bill 2025, describing it as a transformative step toward deeper energy security and peaceful civil nuclear cooperation. The bill, which stands for Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India, marks a historic shift in India’s atomic energy policy.
Strengthening Bilateral Energy Ties
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, the US Embassy in India expressed readiness to collaborate on joint innovation and research and development (R&D). The US view emphasizes that this legislative change aligns with global standards and opens new avenues for international partnership.
“We welcome India’s new #SHANTIBill, a step towards a stronger energy security partnership and peaceful civil nuclear cooperation,” the US Embassy stated.
What the SHANTI Bill, 2025 Changes
Passed by Parliament last Thursday, the SHANTI Bill introduces radical changes to India’s decades-old nuclear legal framework:
- Private Sector Entry: For the first time, private companies and joint ventures are permitted to construct, own, and operate nuclear power plants and reactors, ending the monopoly previously held by public sector units.
- Modernizing Legislation: The bill repeals the Atomic Energy Act of 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act of 2010, replacing them with a consolidated legal structure designed to attract investment.
- Regulatory Independence: It grants statutory recognition to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), strengthening independent safety oversight.
- Vision 2047: The legislation is a cornerstone of India’s goal to achieve 100 GW of nuclear energy capacity by 2047, supporting the nation’s transition toward clean energy.
New Licensing Norms
Under the new framework, any company or “person expressly permitted by the central government” can apply for a license to engage in nuclear activities, provided they meet stringent safety authorizations regarding radiation exposure. This openness is expected to catalyze large-scale private investment and facilitate the import of cutting-edge modular reactor technology.