NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced that India is gearing up for a big shift in its nuclear policy as the Centre is now planning to allow private companies into the nuclear energy sector, a space that has traditionally been tightly controlled by the government.“We are moving towards opening the nuclear sector as well. We are laying the foundation for a strong role for the private sector in this field too,” Modi said in his address through video conferencing.“This will create opportunities in small modular reactors, advanced reactors and nuclear innovation. This reform will give new strength to our energy security and technological leadership,” he added.
He made the announcement while virtually inaugurating Skyroot’s new Infinity Campus, the latest milestone for the Hyderabad-based space start-up founded by former Isro engineers.The government has set an ambitious goal of scaling India’s nuclear power capacity to 100 GW by 2047, a massive leap from the current 8.8 GW, PTI reported.As part of this push, the government has listed the Atomic Energy Bill, 2025 for introduction in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament starting December 1. The Bill aims to open the nuclear power sector to private players in a major shift from the existing framework.Earlier this year, while presenting the Union Budget in February, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had also announced plans to amend India’s nuclear liability law, signalling a broader effort to modernise the sector.At present, the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 bars private companies and even state governments from participating in nuclear power generation. The law grants exclusive authority to the Centre, and only government-owned entities are permitted to set up and operate nuclear power plants.During his address, the Prime Minister also praised how private players have transformed India’s space capabilities ever since the sector was opened to them.“The nation is witnessing an unprecedented opportunity in the space sector today. The private sector is taking great strides in India’s space sector. Skyroot’s Infinity Campus is a reflection of new thinking, innovation and youth power,” he said.He highlighted that India began its space journey with very limited resources, yet managed to make a global impact, thanks in large part to decades of work by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He said Skyroot’s success shows how far India’s tech-driven youth can go.“Our youth’s innovation, risk-taking ability, and entrepreneurship are touching new heights. Today’s event shows that in future, India will emerge as a leader in the global satellite launch ecosystem,” the PM said.
