Lok Sabha Passes Nuclear Energy Bill 2025, Expanding Safe Use Across Sectors

The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025 a landmark legislation to overhaul India’s nuclear energy legal framework was passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday , marking a significant policy shift in the country’s nuclear sector. The bill, moved by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh , aims to promote nuclear energy across power generation, healthcare, agriculture, industry, research and environmental protection while ensuring robust safety, regulatory oversight and expanded private participation.

Described by the government as a “milestone legislation,” the SHANTI Bill repeals and consolidates existing laws such as the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, and introduces a unified regulatory and licensing framework that enables private sector entry into the nuclear industry and seeks to help India achieve 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047. The bill also includes provisions for strong safety mechanisms, liability safeguards and a statutory nuclear safety authority to oversee operations.

In the same sitting, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan moved the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, which proposes a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment per year for rural households whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work, as part of the broader Viksit Bharat @2047 vision.

The Lok Sabha session, which commenced at 11 am with Question Hour , also saw the laying of papers and committee reports by ministers across portfolios including Science & Technology, Personnel, Electronics & IT, Communications, Consumer Affairs, Information & Broadcasting, Mines, Railways and Corporate Affairs. Matters under Rule 377 were also taken up during the day’s proceedings.

The SHANTI Bill is now slated for further consideration in the Rajya Sabha , where discussions and debates are expected to continue during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.