Lok Sabha tables bills on nuclear, higher education revamp, repeal of 71 laws

New Delhi: Two major reform bills-one to open up and modernise India's nuclear energy sector, and another to overhaul higher education regulation-alongside a proposal to repeal 71 obsolete laws were introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025, aims to unlock India's nuclear power potential by replacing the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010. The move is significant as India targets a sharp expansion in nuclear capacity to support its clean energy transition and reduce dependence on fossil fuel.

Introducing the Bill, minister of state Jitendra Singh said it provides a "pragmatic civil liability regime" and grants statutory backing to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, a long-pending reform.


The government also introduced the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, proposing a single higher education commission supported by three specialised councils for regulation, accreditation and academic standards.

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan tabled the Bill amid opposition protests.

Separately, the House also introduced a Bill to repeal 71 redundant laws, including 65 amendment Acts and six principal laws, as part of the government's broader effort to simplify the statute book and reduce regulatory clutter.