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SHANTI Act Opens Nuclear Sector to Private Players; DAE vs Power Ministry Jurisdiction Debate Emerges for 100 GW by 2047 Target

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
03 May 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:100 GW by 20478.7 GWe current capacity1.65% of total capacity6,600 MWe under construction7,000 MWe under planningSHANTI Act 2025
Bodies:Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)Ministry of PowerAtomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB)Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL)Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)NTPC
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.A high-level government debate exists over whether the DAE or the Ministry of Power should supervise new private civil nuclear projects opened by the SHANTI Act.

2.The conflict of interest concern stems from DAE's control over the entire nuclear supply chain, from R&D to fuel management, which the SHANTI Act aimed to partly address by granting statutory status to AERB.

3.The administrative split being considered could place private projects using imported Light Water Reactor (LWR) tech under the Power Ministry, while legacy Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) projects remain with DAE.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

Post the SHANTI Act enabling private sector entry, a crucial administrative debate has emerged within the government. The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and the Ministry of Power are at odds over who should supervise new private civil nuclear projects, highlighting a conflict of interest concern in a sector targeting 100 GW by 2047.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Nuclear Capacity Target100 GW by 2047
Current Installed Capacity8.7 GWe (1.65% of total)
Capacity Under Construction6,600 MWe (Target: 2031-32)
Capacity Under Planning7,000 MWe
Key LegislationSHANTI Act (2025)

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Nuclear Capacity Target: 100 GW by 2047
  • ›Current Installed Capacity: 8.7 GWe (1.65% of total)
  • ›Target this Data: '100 GW nuclear power by 2047' and 'Current capacity 8.7 GWe (1.65% of total)'
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: 'Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)' under PMO, and 'Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB)'
  • ›Target this Legal Point: 'SHANTI Act 2025' granted statutory status to AERB and allowed private sector entry.

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Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

As per the existing structure mentioned in the article, which department is the administrative authority for matters related to nuclear power in India?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the SHANTI Act and India's nuclear sector:

1. The SHANTI Act paves the way for private sector participation in civil nuclear power generation.

2. The Act omitted a liability clause that previously exposed equipment vendors to long-term risk in case of an accident.

3. The Act transferred the administrative control of all existing nuclear power plants from DAE to the Ministry of Power.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the article, what is India's target for installed nuclear power capacity by the year 2047?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is a primary reason cited in the article for the debate on shifting administrative control of some new nuclear projects away from the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)?

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