India's First Draft Rules for SHANTI Nuclear Energy Act Prepared, in Consultation with Ministries and Industry

The Indian government is formulating implementation rules for the SHANTI Act (Sustainable Harmonious Advancement of Nuclear Technology in India Act), aimed at fundamentally transforming the country's nuclear energy sector. The Act is expected to open up the previously tightly controlled nuclear industry to private companies. Relevant departments have already sought comments on these draft rules, but final publication may still take several months, as issues involving multiple agencies require careful consideration.

The SHANTI Act is crucial for India's goal of achieving 100 gigawatts of nuclear power capacity by 2047. It will bring about significant structural changes to India's nuclear energy policy, integrating regulation, implementation processes, civil liability, and dispute resolution mechanisms into a single legal framework. The Act aims to open the door for private sector participation, including foreign companies, in this field.

Currently, multiple rounds of discussions are underway on the details of these rules to ensure full alignment with the SHANTI Act and to avoid any future contradictions or ambiguities. According to reports, no stakeholders or departments have raised substantive obstacles or concerns regarding these rules. However, the process has become lengthy and time-consuming due to the extensive scope covered by Sections 84 and 85 of the SHANTI Act.

These two sections detail the rules the government needs to formulate for implementing the Act, covering 26 areas such as safety measures for radioactive materials, application and licensing procedures, insurance policies, and handling of nuclear damage claims. The complexity of these details requires comprehensive review to ensure the effectiveness and clarity of the regulations.