THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, Dec 17: The Central Government on Wednesday introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha to amend the civil nuclear laws. Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Atomic Energy Jitendra Singh tabled the legislation.
The proposed Bill, aimed at changing the civil nuclear framework, has been named the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025.
Through this Bill, the Modi government proposes to repeal the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, which currently govern the use of nuclear material, energy and equipment in the country.
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A key provision of the proposed law is that, if passed, it will allow private companies and even individuals to participate in activities such as the construction and operation of nuclear power plants in India.
Sources said that after the Bill is enacted, the government aims to achieve a target of 100 gigawatts of nuclear power generation by 2047.
Opposing the legislation, Congress MP Manish Tewari demanded that the Bill be referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for detailed scrutiny.
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He alleged that in 2008, when efforts were being made to end “nuclear apartheid”, the BJP had attempted to derail India’s nuclear programme by moving a no-confidence motion against the UPA government led by Manmohan Singh.
Congress leader K C Venugopal also supported the demand to send the Bill to a JPC.