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India moved a step closer to redefining its long-term energy future on Wednesday, December 17, as Union Minister for Science and Technology and Atomic Energy Jitendra Singh tabled a new nuclear energy law in the Lok Sabha. Describing it as a move that could shape the country’s decades ahead, the minister said the legislation is meant to prepare India for a much larger role for nuclear power in a cleaner, more dependable energy system.

The proposed law is designed to give the nuclear sector a clear and contemporary legal structure - something the government believes is essential if India is to expand capacity, tighten safety oversight and unlock wider civilian uses of nuclear science. The push comes as the country looks for stable, low-carbon energy sources to support its growing economy.

Officially named The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Bill, 2025, the proposed law sets a clear ambition: taking India’s nuclear power capacity to 100 gigawatts by 2047. The target is meant to support the country’s long-term growth plans and climate commitments, while also getting the sector ready for new technologies and wider uses. Throughout the process, the government has underlined that national security and safety will not be compromised.

A clearer path for nuclear expansion

One of the Bill’s central objectives is to bring greater clarity to how nuclear facilities are planned, run and eventually shut down. It lays out detailed rules covering nuclear power plants, research reactors and fuel-cycle units. According to the government, such certainty is crucial for attracting investment, planning capacity additions and maintaining uniform safety standards as nuclear energy’s share in the power mix grows.

Nuclear science beyond power generation

The Bill is not limited to power generation alone. It seeks to expand the use of nuclear science and radiation-based technologies into everyday sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, water management, food processing, industry, research and environmental protection. Whether it is cancer treatment, food safety, cleaner water or industrial processes, the government wants nuclear technology to play a practical role across the economy. The idea is to encourage faster scientific progress and open the door to responsible private participation, while keeping clear safeguards firmly in place.

Another significant shift in the Bill is the proposal to give legal backing to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board. With statutory status, the regulator would become the central authority overseeing nuclear safety, radiation protection and security. Its ability to inspect facilities, probe incidents and ensure compliance would be strengthened. At the same time, the Bill stresses the need for greater transparency through planned public communication on safety matters, while making sure that sensitive and classified information remains secure.

At the same time, activities considered strategic, such as uranium enrichment, reprocessing of spent fuel and management of high-level radioactive waste, will stay firmly under the control of the Central Government or its wholly owned entities. This is in line with India’s three-stage nuclear programme and closed fuel-cycle policy.

The government sees the legislation as central to India’s clean energy push, especially at a time when demand is growing for uninterrupted power to run data centres, artificial intelligence systems and emerging technologies such as quantum computing. It is also intended to support the long-term use of India’s abundant thorium resources, where the country enjoys a strategic advantage.

Once enacted, the new law will streamline and replace select existing provisions, bringing them under a single, modern framework aimed at ensuring the safe, secure and sustainable expansion of nuclear energy in India.