# India proposes single licence, insurance for private nuclear plants 2026-08-16T14:27:06+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets The Indian government has released the draft SHANTI Rules and Regulations, 2026 for public consultation, proposing a single composite licence for building, owning, operating and decommissioning nuclear plants. The rules allow private and foreign participation in the nuclear sector under the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, which replaced the Atomic Energy Act of 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act of 2010 in December last year. The draft rules require operators to maintain insurance or financial security, or a combination of both, for nuclear damage until spent fuel is removed from storage. A Nuclear Liability Fund, funded through a levy on operators, is also proposed. Foreign-designed reactors will be permitted only if approved and operational in a country of origin that is self-reliant in nuclear reactor design and supply chain ecosystem. The Times of India reports that the government has set a target of 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047, from 8.8 GW currently. Prospective operators can seek in-principle approval before selecting a site or technology, though the approval can be revoked on grounds including national security. The rules require applicants to demonstrate financial, managerial and technical capabilities, including arrangements for assured fuel supplies, spent fuel and radioactive waste management. The Department of Atomic Energy has invited public comments until September 4, 2026. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com - energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above. Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources. Last updated 2026-08-17T08:46:10+00:00. Tags: Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, government regulation, India, nuclear power, SHANTI Act Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/govt-seeks-comments-on-new-nuclear-licensing-rules/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/govt-seeks-comments-on-new-nuclear-licensing-rules/#story-in-brief How this brief was made: an AI model read the reports linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. Stance labels are editorial classifications of how each outlet framed this story, assigned by the same model, not ratings of the outlets. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/