INDUSTRY
SHANTI Act rules permit private, foreign players to operate nuclear plants
- IBJ Bureau
- Aug 16, 2026
India has proposed a tightly supervised approval regime for private nuclear power generation, opening the door to foreign reactor technologies with proven track records.
The draft rules and regulations of the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, 2025, released by the Department of Atomic Energy opens a tightly guarded sector to private and foreign investors.
The rules retain control over entry and operations by private and foreign players in line with global nuclear markets.
According to the draft rules, companies will secure approval in principle to engage vendors, undertake preliminary development work and secure land before obtaining a formal licence.
Once licensed, projects will face stage-by-stage regulatory scrutiny covering design, siting, construction, commissioning and operation. The draft regulations propose oversight powers for regulators, including the ability to halt work at key project stages.
India’s nuclear industry has remained largely under State control, with access to foreign fuel and technology constrained for decades after its 1974 nuclear test explosion triggered international restrictions.
Last year, the country had amended the nuclear energy Act to allow private companies to build and operate projects, while the retained control over licensing and strategic nuclear materials.
The world’s third-largest greenhouse-gas emitter aims to expand nuclear generation capacity by 12-fold to 100 gw over the next two decades, making private investment and foreign technology critical to meeting those ambitions.
The draft regulations circulated for public consultation allow reactor designs with established overseas operating records.
The rules require developers to submit licensing and operating experience obtained from their home markets.
Nuclear power developers will be required to maintain financial security for nuclear liability, decommissioning and waste-management obligations and submit plans for management of radioactive waste.
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