India proposes new rules to open nuclear sector to private and foreign investment

India’s Department of Atomic Energy has released draft rules under the SHANTI Act, 2025, proposing a significant overhaul of the nation’s nuclear regulatory framework to encourage private and foreign participation.

The draft regulations introduce a single-window composite licence covering the entire lifecycle of a nuclear power plant, from construction to decommissioning. To manage risk, operators will be required to maintain insurance or financial security to cover nuclear damage until all spent fuel is removed from storage. Additionally, the rules mandate a five-yearly review of civil liability limits by a government-appointed expert group.

To integrate foreign technology, the rules stipulate that imported reactors must be certified by the nuclear regulatory authority of their country of origin. Furthermore, the technology must be proven, meaning the reactor designs must already be operational in their home country or another foreign jurisdiction. This move aims to support India’s goal of expanding nuclear capacity 12-fold to 100 gigawatts over the next two decades.