Opening of Civil Nuclear Sector for Private Participation

On December 12, 2025, the Union Cabinet of India approved a significant Bill aimed at allowing private participation in the civil nuclear power sector, traditionally under tight control. This move is part of India's strategic plan to achieve an atomic energy capacity of 100 GW by the year 2047.

Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill

• The Bill was approved during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• It marks a pivotal change in the energy policy, aiming to facilitate private sector involvement in nuclear power generation.

Announcements by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

• In her February Budget speech, she highlighted the plan to open the nuclear sector to private companies.
• Introduced the Nuclear Energy Mission for advancing research and development of small modular reactors (SMRs).
• An allocation of ₹20,000 crore was announced for this mission.
• The goal is to operationalise five indigenously developed SMRs by 2033.