Govt issues draft rules under SHANTI Act to open nuclear power to private players

16 August 2026National

On 15 August 2026, the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) issued draft rules to operationalise the SHANTI Act — the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Act — moving India closer to permitting private and foreign participation in the civil nuclear power sector. The Act received Presidential assent on 20 December 2025, consolidating and repealing earlier nuclear laws into a single framework. SHANTI unlocks private participation across power generation, reactor supply and operation, fuel mining, and R&D, ending decades of exclusive state control. It supports the Independence Day pledge of 100 GW nuclear by 2047, with five new reactors targeted to be operational within 6-7 years.

Static GK

"SHANTI" = Sanskrit for peace | Regulator: Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) | India''s first reactor: Apsara (1956) | DAE set up 1954 under Homi J. Bhabha

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On 15 Aug 2026 the DAE released draft rules under the SHANTI Act (assent 20 Dec 2025) to open India''s civil nuclear sector to private and foreign players, supporting the 100 GW-by-2047 target.

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