India's Parliament Passes SHANTI Bill: Opening Nuclear Sector to Private Players While Targeting 100 GW Capacity by 2047

The Lok Sabha approved the nuclear energy legislation on Wednesday through a voice vote while opposition members walked out in protest.

New Delhi:

On Wednesday, the Lok Sabha passed the nuclear energy bill with Union Minister Jitendra Singh emphasizing that this legislation would help India reach its ambitious target of generating 100 GW of atomic energy by 2047.

The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, which aims to open the previously tightly-controlled civil nuclear sector to private participation, was approved by voice vote as opposition members staged a walkout.

Singh described the legislation as a "milestone" that would provide a new direction to India's developmental trajectory.

He stated, "India's geopolitical influence is growing. To establish ourselves as a global player, we must adhere to global benchmarks and strategies. As the world transitions toward clean energy, we have also established a target of achieving 100 GW of nuclear energy capacity by 2047."

The opposition argued that the bill weakened provisions of the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act of 2010, which had transferred liability for nuclear incidents to suppliers of nuclear equipment.