India’s Parliament has passed a landmark bill that opens its tightly controlled civil nuclear sector to private companies, a move hailed by supporters as a break from state dominance and criticized by opponents for weakening safety safeguards.
The Passage
The lower house of Parliament approved the legislation on Wednesday, and the upper house gave its assent on Thursday. The bill now awaits the president’s formal assent, a step that is largely ceremonial.
What the Bill Does
Dubbed Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India, the legislation seeks to modernise India’s nuclear framework in line with technological, economic and energy realities. It retains and strengthens core safety, security and regulatory safeguards while opening the sector to private investment.
Support for the Move
“It marks a momentous milestone for India and signals capable private sector players that the country is open for business in the nuclear energy space,” said Karthik Ganesan, director of strategic partnerships at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, a think tank.
Junior Minister Jitendra Singh, who oversees the department of atomic energy, told lawmakers that the bill seeks to modernise India’s nuclear framework in line with technological, economic and energy realities. “India’s role in geopolitics is increasing. And if we have to be a global player effectively, we have to live up to global benchmarks, follow global parameters and adopt global strategies,” Singh said in the lower house, adding that the legislation was necessary to address the country’s growing energy needs.
Opposition Concerns
Opposition parties flagged concerns related to several provisions of the bill and urged the government to refer it to a parliamentary panel for examination. The government did not comply.
“The bill doesn’t have sufficient safeguards when it comes to mitigating the bad health of those impacted by living in areas closer to nuclear plants,” Ashok Mittal, a lawmaker from the opposition Aam Admi Party, told The Associated Press.
G. Sundarrajan, an anti-nuclear energy activist, called the bill a “disastrous law,” saying it takes away essential safeguards that are needed to make sure companies invest in safety and reduce the chances of a major disaster that can impact millions from occurring.
“It also provides little recourse for any Indian citizen to claim damages from nuclear companies even if they are affected by radiation leaks or suffer from any other health impact as a result of a nuclear plant in their region,” he said.
India’s Energy Context
India is one of the world’s biggest emitters of planet-warming gases and over 75 % of its power is still generated by burning fossil fuels, mostly coal. Nuclear power is a way to make electricity that doesn’t emit planet-warming gases, although it does create radioactive waste.
The government has pledged over $2 billion in recent months toward research and allied activities and aims to install 100 gigawatts of nuclear power by 2047. That capacity would power nearly 60 million Indian homes a year.
Energy experts say that for the world to move away from carbon-polluting fuels like coal, oil and gas, sources like nuclear that don’t rely on the sun and the wind- which aren’t always available- are needed. Some are skeptical about India’s ambitions as the country’s nuclear sector is still very small, and negative public perceptions about the industry remain.
Global Significance
The move carries global significance as India seeks to position itself as a major player in the next wave of nuclear energy, including with small modular reactors at a time many nations are reassessing nuclear power to meet climate targets and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Key Takeaways
- The bill opens India’s civil nuclear sector to private companies while retaining core safety safeguards.
- Supporters view it as a decisive break from decades of state dominance; critics warn of weakened health and liability protections.
- India plans to reach 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047, a step seen as crucial for its climate and energy goals.
The legislation marks a pivotal shift in India’s energy policy, balancing the promise of private investment with ongoing debates over safety and public health.
