iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
India has taken a major step toward reshaping its nuclear energy sector, with the government describing the SHANTI Bill as a landmark reform that ends decades of policy inertia and opens the door to a cleaner and more reliable energy future.
Union Minister for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said the SHANTI Bill, short for Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India, represents one of the most significant science-led reforms under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
He said the legislation breaks a stalemate that had constrained the nuclear sector for more than 60 years and creates a modern framework for expanding nuclear energy strictly for peaceful and civilian purposes.
According to the minister, the Bill unlocks the potential of nuclear power as a clean, sustainable, and dependable source of energy while maintaining strong safeguards on safety, sovereignty, and public interest.
Singh said such a reform had long been considered politically and institutionally difficult, but was made possible by the government’s willingness to rethink legacy policies and align India’s approach with global best practices.
The lawmaker said the third term of the Modi government stands out for its focus on deep structural reforms driven by science, innovation, and entrepreneurship. He noted that while earlier phases of reform were defined by political and strategic shifts, the current phase is centered on transforming sectors that will shape India’s long-term technological and economic growth.
Singh recalled that India’s nuclear program, envisioned by Homi Bhabha, was always meant to serve development needs such as energy security, healthcare, and research.
The SHANTI Bill, he said, reinforces this vision by enabling wider civilian use of nuclear technology, including clean electricity generation, medical applications, and advanced scientific research, while ruling out any non-peaceful use.
The minister also linked the reform to the growing demands of an economy driven by artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and data centers. He said nuclear energy is critical because it provides steady, round-the-clock power, unlike renewable sources that depend on weather conditions.
As India reduces its reliance on fossil fuels and coal, nuclear energy will play a key role in supporting digital infrastructure and strategic industries.
Singh said India’s nuclear power capacity has already doubled from about 4.4 gigawatts in 2014 to nearly 8.7 gigawatts today. He outlined a long-term goal of reaching around 100 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2047, which would allow nuclear power to supply nearly 10 percent of the country’s electricity and support India’s net zero targets.
He also highlighted the expanding role of nuclear science in healthcare, especially in cancer diagnosis and treatment through nuclear medicine and medical isotopes. In addition, he said India is preparing to deploy small modular reactors that can serve urban centers, industrial zones, and emerging economic hubs with lower environmental impact.
The minister said the SHANTI Bill has received broad support from scientists, industry leaders, startups, and the wider innovation ecosystem. He described the legislation as a clear example of the government’s reform-first approach, where science-based policy is being used to move India closer to its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
Photo: x.com/DrJitendraSingh