PARLIAMENT QUESTION: PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN NUCLEAR ENERGY

The Department of Atomic Energy answered a Parliament question on private sector participation in nuclear energy, stating that the SHANTI Act (draft) will govern licensing of private operators. Sections 13‑14 of the Act set civil liability limits: a maximum of ₹300 million SDR per incident, with operator liability caps ranging from ₹100 crore for small installations to ₹3,000 crore for reactors above 3,600 MW. If operator liability exceeds these limits, the Central Government assumes responsibility, funded via a Nuclear Liability Fund levied on electricity tariffs. Private operators must secure insurance or other financial guarantees, and the Act aligns restricted‑information provisions with the RTI Act while ensuring public outreach on nuclear safety.