Parliament Clears SHANTI Bill 2025: Private Players Enter Nuclear Sector; Shashi Tharoor Warns of Risks

The Parliament has passed the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill 2025, paving the way for private participation in the nuclear energy sector. The new legislation replaces the Atomic Energy Act of 1962 and the Civil Liability of Nuclear Damage Act of 2010. The government aims to increase India's nuclear capacity to 100 GW by 2047 through these reforms. However, the opposition has raised strong concerns regarding safety and liability. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticized the bill, stating, 'We cannot allow the pursuit of capital to override the non-negotiable requirements of public safety.' He further warned that the name 'Shanti' should not become a 'cruel irony' in the aftermath of a preventable disaster.