India Advances Atomic Energy Bill 2025 for Winter Session Introduction

Overview

• The government told Lok Sabha the draft is in an advanced stage with inter-ministerial inputs incorporated and concurrent vetting by the Ministry of Law and Justice, and it is listed for introduction in the Winter Session.
• The proposed law would replace the Atomic Energy Act of 1962 and enable private participation in nuclear power.
• Officials said modalities on nuclear safety, an insurance pool and victims’ rights will be set out after ministerial vetting and government approval.
• The 2025–26 budget allocates ₹20,000 crore for small modular reactors, with the 200 MW Bharat SMR nearing administrative and financial sanction and an indigenous SMR operational target of 2033.
• The Department of Atomic Energy reported talks with Russia’s Rosatom on cooperation including Russian-design SMRs and equipment localisation, as large projects such as RAPP-8 and KKNPP-3&4 face delays from post-Fukushima upgrades, supply constraints and contractor stress.