The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) has welcomed the passage of the SHANTI (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India) Act, 2025, calling it a historic milestone in India’s energy sector. Receiving Presidential assent after approval by both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, the legislation marks the most comprehensive update of India’s civil nuclear framework since independence, the USISPF stated.
The SHANTI Act replaces the Atomic Energy Act of 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act of 2010. Key reforms include expanded private and foreign participation in the nuclear sector, a clarified liability framework for operators, and full operationalization of the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Agreement. The act is expected to modernize India’s nuclear infrastructure and enhance bilateral cooperation in clean energy development.
Union Minister of Science and Technology and Atomic Energy Jitendra Singh emphasized that the law aligns India’s nuclear policies with modern technological, economic, and energy realities, while maintaining strong safety and regulatory standards. India plans to increase its nuclear energy production to 100 gigawatts by 2047, up from the current 8–9 gigawatts.
Introduced in Parliament on December 15, 2025, and passed last week, the SHANTI Act reflects a pivotal step toward modernizing India’s nuclear landscape. USISPF highlighted that this legislation not only promotes private and foreign investment but also strengthens India-US strategic collaboration in nuclear and clean energy, shaping a sustainable energy future for decades to come.
