'Peace' bill will make India self-reliant in the field of nuclear energy (symbolic picture)
Digital Desk, New Delhi. The Sustainable Horning and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (Peace) Bill, brought to achieve self-reliance in the field of nuclear energy and meet the clean energy goals of 2047, has been passed in both the Houses of Parliament.
The Bill streamlines the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act. Let us know how it can help in making India self-reliant in nuclear energy?
Privatization will get a boost in the nuclear sector
The Bill enables responsible private and joint venture partnerships to achieve the national target of 100 GW nuclear power capacity by 2047 without compromising national security or public interest.
The bill opens the nuclear sector for privatization under the same conditions as the space sector was opened to the private sector. However, the right to mine uranium beyond the prescribed limit will remain entirely with the government.
Along with this, the responsibility of management of used fuel will also remain with the government. The government will continue to have tight control over strategic materials such as source material, fissile material and heavy water.
Nuclear energy is not limited to electricity generation
The use of nuclear energy is not limited to electricity generation only, but it is also useful in many areas like cancer treatment, agriculture and industry. This bill will be helpful in meeting the growing demand from sectors like renewable energy as well as data processing, healthcare and industry.
It aims to regulate the use of nuclear and radiation technologies in sectors such as healthcare, food and agriculture, industry and research, while exempting research, development and innovation activities from licensing requirements.
Union Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said in the Lok Sabha that nuclear safety standards remain unchanged and steadfast, governed by the stringent principles enshrined in the Atomic Energy Act of 1962. The principle emphasizes safety first, production later.
Safety standards include a rigorous inspection regime, including quarterly inspections during construction, biennial inspections during operation, five-yearly license renewals and monitoring in accordance with International Atomic Energy Agency standards. India's nuclear plants are geographically located away from seismic fault zones, resulting in radiation levels in Indian reactors many times lower than prescribed global safety limits.
The Bill proposes a revised and practical civil liability framework for nuclear damage. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board has been granted statutory status and mechanisms related to safety measures, quality assurance and emergency preparedness have been strengthened.
It provides for the creation of new institutional arrangements including the Atomic Energy Prevention Advisory Council, appointment of Claim Commissioners and a Nuclear Damage Claims Commission for cases related to serious nuclear damage, in which the Electricity Appellate Tribunal will act as the appellate authority.
The proposed legislation seeks to balance nuclear energy expansion with safety, accountability, and public interest, placing nuclear energy within a broader national effort toward energy security and a low-carbon future.