The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, introduced in Parliament in December 2025, marks a watershed moment in India's energy policy. The legislation repeals the Atomic Energy Act of 1962, which restricted nuclear power generation to government entities for over six decades.
Under the new framework, private companies will be permitted to build, own, and operate nuclear power plants, opening the sector to an estimated $120 billion in investment. India currently operates nuclear plants with a combined capacity of 8,180 MW, contributing just 3% of the country's total electricity generation.
The government has set an ambitious target of achieving 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047, coinciding with India's centennial independence celebrations. This represents a twelve-fold increase from current levels. The Bill establishes a new regulatory architecture with the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Authority replacing the existing Atomic Energy Regulatory Board.
Experts note that nuclear energy is significantly more land-efficient than solar and wind power, requiring approximately one-tenth the land area per megawatt. The move aligns with India's updated Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement, which target 60% clean energy capacity by 2035.