Background: Passed in the Lok Sabha on December 18, 2025, the SHANTI Bill (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India) marks the most radical reform in India's nuclear sector. It repeals the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA), 2010, aiming to align India with global standards and meet the 100 GW nuclear target by 2047.
Key Provisions:
- End of Monopoly: Licenses can now be granted to Indian private companies and Joint Ventures (JVs) with the government. Previously, only central government entities like NPCIL could operate plants.
- Liability Reform: The Bill adopts a tiered liability structure (ranging from ₹100 crore to ₹3,000 crore) based on power capacity. Crucially, it removes the "Right of Recourse" against suppliers for defective equipment, making the sector more attractive to global vendors like Westinghouse or EDF.
- Regulatory Autonomy: Grants statutory status to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), ensuring its independence from the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).
- Appellate Mechanism: Establishes an Atomic Energy Redressal Advisory Council for dispute resolution, with further appeals lying before the APTEL (Appellate Tribunal for Electricity).
Significance for UPSC: This Bill is vital for Energy Security and Net-Zero 2070 goals. It facilitates the deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which are safer and faster to build, making nuclear energy a viable "baseload" complement to renewables.
IAS-2026 - OPTIONAL / GEOGRAPHY / PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION / SOCIOLOGY / ANTHROPOLOGY / ORIENTATION ON 03 & 04-10-2025 
