On December 17, 2025, the Lok Sabha passed the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill despite Opposition demands to refer it to a parliamentary panel. The Bill now heads to the Rajya Sabha for discussion before becoming law. Congress MP Manish Tewari raised concerns linking the Bill’s timing with the Adani Group’s interest in nuclear energy. Science Minister Jitendra Singh denied any specific company ties, calling such claims "disrepute to the House." A key point of debate was the removal of a clause from the 2010 Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act that allowed nuclear plant operators to claim compensation from suppliers in case of accidents. Mr. Tewari questioned, "God forbid if there is an accident… shouldn’t a foreign supplier be liable?" Mr. Singh responded that concerns in 2010 no longer apply due to new technology such as small modular reactors, which lower the risk of major accidents. He explained that the law adapts to "changed times" and advanced technology. Opposition MPs also criticized the Bill’s liability cap of ₹3,000 crore (about $400 million). NCP’s Supriya Sule asked how the figure was calculated, and Congress’ Shashi Tharoor compared it to the much higher costs of Fukushima and Chernobyl disasters, calling the cap unrealistic. Mr. Singh said ₹3,000 crore is the maximum operator liability. Extra funds would come from a nuclear insurance pool and a new Nuclear Liability Fund, contributed by tariffs. Beyond this, international cover under the Convention on Supplementary Compensation could apply. The government highlighted that the Bill modernizes existing nuclear laws and encourages private investment by reducing liability risks, especially for developing small modular reactors. Currently, nuclear energy accounts for 1.5% of India’s power capacity and 3% of electricity. The government aims to increase nuclear capacity to 100 GW by 2047, from the present 8.8 GW, as part of its clean energy and 2070 net-zero goals. A ₹20,000-crore mission to develop small modular and customized reactors was announced in this year’s Budget. The SHANTI Bill is a major step toward opening India's nuclear sector to private players and scaling up clean energy with modern technology.