New Delhi, Dec 18: Union Minister of State for the Department of Atomic Energy, Jitendra Singh, on Thursday assured the Rajya Sabha that the government would make no compromise on safety and safeguard mechanisms while opening up the civil nuclear sector for private participation through a new legislative framework.
Initiating the discussion in the Upper House, Singh moved the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, which aims to allow limited private sector involvement in India’s tightly regulated nuclear energy domain. The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha a day earlier.
Addressing concerns raised by members, the minister underlined that nuclear energy remains a reliable source of round the clock power generation, unlike many renewable energy options that are dependent on weather and natural conditions. He said nuclear power is essential for meeting India’s long term energy needs while ensuring stability in supply.
Singh said India has witnessed a fundamental shift in its global standing over the past decade, asserting that the country is no longer a follower but a leader shaping international discourse on issues such as climate change, energy security and clean energy transition. He noted that since 2014, global priorities have increasingly aligned with India’s own developmental vision, particularly in areas related to sustainable and low carbon energy sources.
He told the House that the transition towards clean energy is no longer optional but a global necessity, driven by environmental concerns and the need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. India, he said, is committed to this transition while ensuring that its growing economy has access to reliable power. “Nuclear energy is critical in this context because it provides uninterrupted power supply,” he added.
Highlighting the government’s efforts to strengthen the nuclear sector, Singh said the budget of the Department of Atomic Energy has increased significantly from Rs 13,879 crore before 2014 to Rs 37,483 crore in the current financial year. He said the enhanced allocation reflects the government’s long term commitment to expanding nuclear capacity.
The minister recalled that in 2015, the government took a major policy decision to allow joint ventures in the nuclear sector, though participation was limited to public sector undertakings. This was followed by a Cabinet decision in 2017 granting bulk approval for setting up 10 nuclear reactors. In September 2025, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for four additional nuclear reactors, further strengthening the country’s nuclear infrastructure.
Singh informed the House that India’s nuclear power capacity has nearly doubled since 2014, rising from 4.7 gigawatts to 8.9 gigawatts at present. However, he pointed out that nuclear power still accounts for only about three percent of the country’s total power generation. To address this gap, the government has launched a nuclear energy mission with the objective of raising nuclear power’s share to at least 10 percent by 2047.
A key element of the mission, Singh said, is opening the sector to private players, while maintaining stringent safeguards, regulatory oversight and surveillance mechanisms. He clarified that certain adjustments and modifications in existing frameworks are required to enable private participation without compromising safety.
He also noted that the nuclear regulatory board has been included in the Bill and is being granted statutory status, a move aimed at strengthening independent oversight and enhancing public confidence.
Reiterating the government’s position, Singh assured the House that safety would remain paramount. “Let me assure this House that there will be no compromise whatsoever on safeguard mechanisms,” he said.