SHANTI Bill, 2025: India’s Modern Nuclear Energy Framework
1. Nuclear energy is produced mainly through controlled nuclear fission, where atomic reactions release heat that is used to generate electricity on a large scale.
2. Nuclear power generates electricity without direct greenhouse gas emissions during operation, making it a low-carbon source suited for long-term clean energy expansion.
3. Unlike solar and wind, nuclear energy can provide continuous base-load electricity and supports grid stability through round-the-clock power generation.
4. India’s nuclear programme has been developed under a legal structure centred on peaceful use, national security, safety regulation, and state-led institutional control.
5. Earlier nuclear laws supported state control, gradual capacity growth, and liability management, but were considered insufficient for present technological and energy requirements.
6. Rising electricity demand and decarbonisation goals have increased the strategic importance of nuclear power in India’s long-term energy planning framework.
7. Existing legal limits reduced flexibility for large-scale investment, innovation, and faster capacity growth, creating the need for a unified and modernised framework.
8. Nuclear power currently contributes a modest but stable share in electricity generation, indicating reliability despite limited installed capacity at present.
9. Future expansion is expected through new reactor technologies, indigenous reactor designs, and international cooperation in nuclear energy development.
10. A national mission aims to achieve large-scale nuclear capacity by mid-century, showing that nuclear energy is being treated as a long-term strategic power source.
11. Small Modular Reactors are being emphasised to improve flexibility, safety, and decentralised deployment in the future nuclear expansion programme.
12. Nuclear development is also linked to non-power applications, including hydrogen generation and industrial processes, beyond conventional electricity production.
13. The new framework allows limited private participation in power generation, manufacturing, and selected fuel-cycle activities under strict regulatory supervision.
14. Sensitive areas such as spent fuel processing, high-level waste management, and strategic nuclear materials remain under exclusive sovereign control.
15. The revised framework introduces stronger licensing, statutory regulatory recognition, graded civil liability, dedicated compensation mechanisms, and reinforced systems for safeguards, emergency response, and quality assurance.
Must Know Terms :
1. Fission
Nuclear fission is the process in which the nucleus of a heavy atom splits into smaller parts and releases large amounts of heat energy. In nuclear power plants, this heat is used to produce steam and run turbines for electricity generation. Controlled fission makes continuous large-scale power production possible and forms the core operating principle of most commercial nuclear reactors globally.
2. Baseload
Baseload refers to the minimum continuous level of electricity demand that a power system must meet at all times. Nuclear power is suited for baseload supply because reactors operate continuously for long durations and are not dependent on sunlight, wind, or seasonal weather conditions. This makes nuclear energy important for grid stability, round-the-clock supply, and supporting variable renewable energy sources.
3. Decarbonisation
Decarbonisation means reducing the carbon emissions associated with energy production, industrial activity, and economic growth. Nuclear energy supports decarbonisation because it generates electricity without direct greenhouse gas emissions during plant operation. Its use in electricity supply also helps reduce dependence on fossil fuels. This makes nuclear power important in long-term strategies for clean energy transition and low-carbon industrial development.
4. Liability
Liability in the nuclear sector refers to legal and financial responsibility for damage caused by a nuclear incident. A graded civil liability structure means responsibility can vary according to reactor type, installation scale, and risk profile. This system provides clearer compensation rules, claims management, and dispute handling. It also improves predictability for operators, regulators, and affected persons in case of nuclear-related accidents.
5. Safeguards
Safeguards are the technical, legal, and monitoring measures used to ensure that nuclear materials, facilities, and technologies are not diverted from authorised peaceful purposes. In a national nuclear framework, safeguards work with security checks, licensing systems, inspections, and emergency protocols. They are essential for maintaining regulatory discipline, protecting strategic materials, supporting international confidence, and preserving sovereign control over sensitive nuclear activities.
6. SMRs
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are advanced nuclear reactors designed with smaller capacity, modular construction, and greater deployment flexibility than conventional large reactors. They are intended to improve safety, reduce construction complexity, and support decentralised power generation. SMRs are also relevant for remote regions, industrial use, and hydrogen production. Their growing importance reflects the shift toward scalable and technologically adaptable nuclear expansion.
MCQ:
1.Nuclear energy primarily generates electricity by:
A. Burning fossil fuels at high temperatures
B. Controlled atomic fission releasing heat
C. Chemical reactions between radioactive elements
D. Fusion of light nuclei under extreme pressure
2.One major advantage of nuclear power generation is that it:
A. Requires very small land area compared to all renewables
B. Produces electricity without greenhouse gas emissions
C. Depends entirely on imported technology
D. Operates only during peak demand hours
3.The primary objective of the SHANTI Bill, 2025 is to:
A. Privatise the entire nuclear sector
B. Replace renewable energy policies
C. Modernise and consolidate the nuclear legal framework
D. Eliminate government control over atomic energy
4.India’s nuclear energy contribution to total electricity generation has remained close to:
A. 1 percent
B. 3 percent
C. 7 percent
D. 12 percent
5.The present installed nuclear power capacity of India is approximately:
A. 4.5 GW
B. 6.2 GW
C. 8.78 GW
D. 12.5 GW
6.Planned nuclear capacity expansion aims to reach about 22 GW by:
A. 2027–28
B. 2029–30
C. 2031–32
D. 2035–36
7.Small Modular Reactors are emphasised mainly because they:
A. Eliminate the need for regulatory oversight
B. Are suitable only for military purposes
C. Offer flexible, scalable, and safer deployment
D. Replace conventional large reactors entirely
8.Under the new framework, private participation in nuclear energy is:
A. Completely unrestricted
B. Allowed under strict regulatory supervision
C. Limited only to foreign companies
D. Prohibited in power generation
9.Which of the following activities remains exclusively under central government control?
A. Nuclear equipment manufacturing
B. Electricity distribution
C. Spent fuel reprocessing and waste management
D. Reactor maintenance services
10.The graded liability framework implies that:
A. Liability limits are uniform for all installations
B. Operators bear unlimited liability
C. Liability varies based on installation characteristics
D. Liability applies only to private operators
11.Statutory recognition is granted to which body to strengthen nuclear regulation?
A. Department of Atomic Energy
B. Nuclear Power Corporation
C. Atomic Energy Regulatory Board
D. Central Electricity Authority
12.Non-power applications of nuclear technology include use in:
A. Defence manufacturing only
B. Healthcare, agriculture, and industry
C. Space exploration exclusively
D. Telecommunications infrastructure
13.The strengthened regulatory framework focuses strongly on:
A. Rapid construction over safety
B. Security, safeguards, and emergency preparedness
C. Reducing inspection requirements
D. Decentralising all oversight powers
14.Dispute resolution under the framework includes the establishment of:
A. A Parliamentary Standing Committee
B. A Constitutional Bench
C. An Atomic Energy Redressal Advisory Council
D. A State-level Energy Tribunal
15.The long-term vision for nuclear energy expansion targets achieving large capacity by:
A. 2030
B. 2035
C. 2047
D. 2070
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