In December 2025, India passed the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, opening its nuclear sector to private and foreign players. Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh told Parliament, “Nuclear Power is Aatmanirbhar, clean and can provide 24x7 energy.” He said privatisation will lead to “cheaper power over time” and ensure energy security while supporting the goal of Net Zero emissions by 2030. The SHANTI Act replaces the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010. It permits any government or private company, domestic or foreign, to apply for a licence to build, own, operate, or decommission nuclear power plants or reactors. These licences also cover nuclear fuel fabrication, refining, enrichment, import, export, storage, and transport, subject to safety authorisations by the government. However, key activities like uranium and thorium mining, enrichment, handling spent fuel, and production of heavy water remain restricted to the government or wholly owned institutions. The Act empowers the Centre to monitor and regulate this sensitive material. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor cautioned against concentration of power in one entity but the Bill was swiftly passed without select committee review. Experts like Dr. E.A.S Sharma express concern over the entry of foreign reactors and lack of standardisation. He also highlighted past issues of illegal monazite mining and the limited capacity of government agencies to monitor radioactive materials accurately. Under Section 39 of SHANTI, the Centre can restrict any information related to nuclear operations from public access, giving the government broad exemption from Right to Information (RTI) requests. Dr. Sharma warned that private firms will have access to sensitive data while civilians will not. Dr. Singh emphasized nuclear power’s positives: “It would provide better cancer treatment & diagnostics, safer food preservation, clean drinking water, improved agriculture and reliable supply for India’s growing AI, data centres, hospitals and industries.” India aims to reach 100 gigawatts of nuclear power capacity by 2047. Despite promises of clean energy, critics worry about radioactive contamination risks and the government’s quick, one-sided approach focused on business interests. The debate continues as India’s nuclear future enters a new, privatised era.