Lok Sabha Question No. 6132 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-04-01
Subject: Nuclear Energy Sector
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Shri Sasikanth Senthil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 6132 ANSWERED ON 01/04/2026

## NUCLEAR ENERGY SECTOR

## 6132.    SHRI SASIKANTH SENTHI:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government proposes to allow greater private sector participation in the nuclear energy  sector  including  in  reactor  manufacturing,  operation,  fuel  supply  or  maintenance services and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether any amendments to the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 are under consideration to facilitate private or foreign investment and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of existing legal position regarding supplier liability and the extent of financial responsibility borne by private operators or equipment suppliers in the event of a nuclear accident;
- (d) whether the Government has conducted a safety, regulatory and financial risk assessment before expanding private participation in a sector involving strategic and environmental risks and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the  details  of  the  safeguards  proposed  to  ensure  transparency,  public  accountability  and adequate compensation mechanisms in case of any nuclear incident?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a)to(c) The SHANTI Act which has received the assent of President of India on 21 st  December, 2025 allows private sector participation for setting up a nuclear facility, or to  carry out activities for the production, use and disposal of nuclear energy under a license from the Central Government and safety authorization of the Regulatory Board. This Act has been enacted for the promotion and development of nuclear energy and ionising radiation for nuclear power generation, and other non-power applications, and for its safe and secure utilisation.

This Act also has provisions for civil liability for nuclear damage in case of any nuclear incident  in  the  nuclear  installation.   The  SHANTI  Act  has  aligned  the  civil  liability  for nuclear  damage  with  international  liability  regime.  It  provides  a  pragmatic  and  graded approach for nuclear damage liability from 100Cr to 3000Cr based on the type of nuclear facility. The principal for payment compensation for the nuclear damage is prompt payment by  operator  with  strict  and  no-fault  liability.  Above  operator's  liability,  Government  of India's liability is upto 300 million SDR. Above this liability, Government can seek from Convention on Supplementary Compensation which is an international Convention to which India is party.

- (d) Government of India has established the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) by a statutory order (S.O. 4772), to carry out certain regulatory and safety functions envisaged under Section 16, 17 and 23 of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962. Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) is empowered to lay down safety standards and frame rules and regulations for regulatory and safety envisaged under the Act. Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) in India are  sited,  designed,  constructed,  commissioned  &  operated  in  conformity  with  relevant nuclear safety requirements including environmental safety. Highest level of nuclear safety is  ensured  in  the  NPPs,  which  is  verified  through  systematic  multi-tier  safety  review  in AERB and periodic  regulatory  inspections  of  NPPs  carried  out  by  AERB.  In  case  any deviation is noticed, AERB enforces suitable corrective/ remedial measures.

The Parliament has recently passed the SHANTI Act, 2025 which envisages participation of private entities in the nuclear sector. The regulatory framework and requirements of AERB are generally entity and technology neutral. Therefore, the same regulatory framework can be  utilised  for  safety  regulation  of  any  Nuclear  Power  Project  irrespective  of  the  entity involved (Private/Public).

- (e) AERB has established criteria for reporting of nuclear incidents by the licensee. As per the recently passed SHANTI Act, 2025, AERB is required to provide its recommendations to the Central Government for notifying such nuclear incidents, within 15 days from the date of occurrence of the nuclear incident.

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