All Things Policy A Nuclear Reform Long Overdue
Jan 26, 2026
They unpack India’s new nuclear law and whether it modernises the sector. They explain ending the state monopoly and how private licensing will work. They cover liability caps, pooled funds and international insurance layers. They discuss giving the regulator statutory independence. They look at workforce, supply-chain bottlenecks, SMRs and the push to scale to 100 GW.
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End Of Government Monopoly
- The Shanti Bill ends the government's monopoly and allows private entities to own and operate nuclear plants via licenses.
- This deregulation is essential to scale nuclear capacity beyond state-owned NPCIL and attract new investment.
Liability Clause Drove Suppliers Away
- A small recourse clause in the 2010 liability law deterred foreign suppliers by allowing operators to hold suppliers liable.
- That clause stalled major projects and kept foreign reactor suppliers away for years.
Regulatory Words Aren't Enough
- Government FAQs couldn't placate suppliers after the CLNDA; legal certainty required legislative change.
- Only amending the law restored supplier confidence sufficiently to revive stalled deals.