India opens nuclear sector to private players under SHANTI Act 2025
India opens nuclear sector to private players under SHANTI Act 2025
New SHANTI Act 2025 enables private participation and foreign funding to boost India's nuclear capacity toward 100 GW by 2047.
India is accelerating its push into the nuclear era with the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act 2025, which paves the way for private participation in the sector. With the government approving a policy plan, the aim is to lift installed nuclear capacity from about 8.7 gigawatts today to 100 GW by 2047, signaling a major shift in the country’s energy mix. At the same time, officials are exploring foreign funding options to support this expansion, while ensuring tight safety and liability frameworks.
Experts have stressed that nuclear power requires a 'lifetime commitment' and robust financial security to cover waste management, radiation liability, and decommissioning. The SHANTI Act is positioned to address these long-term costs as private players enter the field, potentially unlocking faster development while maintaining public safety and accountability.
In another milestone, the government is eyeing bids for a 220 MWe Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200) as part of its clean energy transition. The plan is to invite bids within six months and allow foreign companies to partner with local firms to accelerate deployment, diversify the energy mix, and reduce carbon emissions.
Together, these moves reflect a coordinated strategy to modernize India's nuclear sector: a regulatory and financial framework that invites private capital, a clear path for small modular reactors, and stringent safeguards to manage waste and decommissioning over the plant's lifetime.
