US Nuclear Industry Preparing Submissions on India's Draft SHANTI Rules

The United States nuclear industry is preparing a comprehensive submission for India concerning the draft rules and regulations for the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act. The legislation is designed to open up the atomic energy sector to private participation.

The Department of Atomic Energy released the draft rules and regulations last week, setting a deadline of September 4 for public comments. In response, the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) held discussions on Thursday with legal experts in India and the Nuclear Energy Institute.

According to a social media statement, the USISPF is coordinating the industry submission to the Department of Atomic Energy ahead of the September deadline. The organization recently convened a virtual briefing for its Nuclear Industry Committee to analyze the draft rules.

The virtual session brought together senior industry leaders across the nuclear value chain. Discussions focused on key provisions of the draft rules and regulations, implications for private sector entry, licensing, liability, project structuring, and areas requiring industry feedback. Expert speakers included Suhaan Mukerji from Delhi-based PLR Chambers and Ted Jones, Senior Director for National Security and International Programmes at the Nuclear Energy Institute.

The draft rules represent the initial detailed steps by India to permit private sector involvement in the nuclear sector. While the framework lays out procedures for licensing, insurance, and approvals, the government will retain control over sensitive activities.

The SHANTI Act enables private companies and joint ventures to build, own, and operate nuclear plants, handle decommissioning, and engage in nuclear research and development. Additionally, the legislation permits private entities to manufacture nuclear fuel and utilize ionizing radiation for non-electricity applications in medicine, agriculture, and other industries.

India has established national targets to generate 100 GW of nuclear power by 2047 and deploy at least five indigenous Small Modular Reactors—advanced nuclear fission plants capable of producing up to 300 megawatts of electricity each—by 2033.

"The opening of India's civil nuclear sector to private players through the SHANTI Act creates a significant structural shift in energy policy and long-term infrastructure development. As the US nuclear industry prepares its formal submissions on licensing, liability, and project structuring, this collaborative feedback mechanism will be critical for shaping a viable commercial framework. For businesses and investors tracking the energy sector, clear regulatory guidelines on private participation, manufacturing, and small modular reactors will define the pace of future capital deployment and cross-border industrial partnerships." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes