Minister of the Union Jitendra Singh addressed the media in Nový Delhi 18 June 2025 | Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma
The Union Government may consider legislation to change the aspects of the Atomic Energy Act and civil responsibility for the nuclear damage Act to the upcoming monsoon meeting of parliament, the State Minister of Atomic Energy, which Jitendra Singh on Wednesday (June 18, 2025). If such changes could help start private investments in nuclear energy.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while at the beginning of this year he introduced the Union’s budget, announced a “mission” for nuclear energy, which includes the private sector in the construction and development of nuclear reactors. She said that “changes” of these two acts would be “accepted” in this respect.
Singh responded to the Hindu question about important accounts expected in the monsoon meeting and stated that the legislation on the change of these two acts was probably. “We can consider bringing these (amendments) accounts,” he said.
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Significant obstacles
Despite the 2008 nuclear agreement, signed by President Manmohan Singh and US President George W. Bush, there was almost no progress in bringing nuclear reactors to India. The key reason is the Civil Liability Act for the nuclear damage Act, which exposes the manufacturer of nuclear power plants to almost unlimited money obligations in India in the case of a nuclear accident. Atomic energy Act, on the other hand, does not allow private companies to operate nuclear power plants in the country and also prohibits foreign investments in Indian plants.
Should India change its nuclear energy laws?
Due to India’s commitment to be a pure zero in terms of greenhouse gas emissions by 2070 and its ambition to become a “developed” country by 2047, the energy sufficiency is the critical pillar of its policy. The government strives to strengthen the Indian nuclear energy capacity from the current 8,180 MW to 22,480 MW to 2031-32. He expects to scale nuclear energy per 100 GW by 2047.
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Monopoly
Despite permanent investments since 1947, nuclear energy has not contributed significantly to the energy mix of India and represented only 1.6% of energy production. Although there are many other reasons – public concerns about nuclear power plants, its historical links to nuclear weapons, insufficient nuclear fuel and high capital costs for the development of new plants – the government monopoly also adjusted these plants.
In February, Mrs Sitharaman announced a nuclear energy mission of 20,000 GBP to develop indigenous small modular reactors (SMR). The budget suggested that at least five of these reactors will be operated by 2033.
Published – June 18, 2025 21:25
