New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India is preparing to allow private companies to participate in the nuclear power sector, marking a major shift in an industry long controlled exclusively by the central government. The statement was delivered during the inauguration of Skyroot Aerospace’s Infinity campus in Hyderabad, where he highlighted the need to strengthen the country’s future energy framework.
He said that opening the nuclear sector to private involvement would support India’s long-term power requirements and accelerate technological innovation. The government has set an ambitious target of producing 100 gigawatts of nuclear energy by 2047, a dramatic increase from the current installed capacity of 8.8 gigawatts. The expanded goal is expected to create opportunities in areas such as small modular reactors, advanced reactor technology and new-age nuclear research.
The move is part of a broader reform plan, with the government preparing to introduce the Atomic Energy Bill, 2025 in the upcoming Winter session of Parliament beginning December 1. The proposed legislation includes provisions allowing private-sector participation in nuclear power generation, a step that would require changes to the existing legal framework. Earlier this year, the Union Budget also indicated upcoming amendments to the nuclear liability law to support new investment models.
The Atomic Energy Act of 1962 currently restricts the nuclear sector to the central government and its designated corporations, giving them exclusive authority to build and operate nuclear facilities. The new Bill aims to modernise this structure by opening the door for private investment while maintaining strict regulatory oversight.
The reform is positioned as a key pillar in advancing energy security, diversifying power generation sources and reinforcing India’s technological capabilities in the global atomic energy landscape.
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