Nuclear is atomic! But it's not enough

With Lok Sabha passing Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill 2025, a major step has been taken towards finally leveraging the India-US civil nuclear deal formalised in 2008. This is a long-overdue reform that will open one of India's most closed sectors, making it possible for private players to take minority equity in new nuclear power projects, and for investments by foreign companies and global sovereign wealth funds.

Packaged as a trade and investment outreach, it could grease wheels for clinching the India-US trade deal and bring in capital critical to cleaning'n'greening the energy system. But nuclear isn't a silver bullet to be tom-tommed in announcements and unplanned projects, with other options left by the wayside. GoI must provide a clear vision of India's energy system, including a decarbonisation roadmap that is in line with its net zero by 2070 goal. This plan must be more than just capacity-addition targets like 100 GW of nuclear by 2047. It should consider the role and share of different energy sources and their implications, be it costs, access or supporting ecosystem requirements.

The blueprint should also set out an implementation roadmap to provide clarity on rollout of the proposed decarbonised energy system, and give the right signals for investment. While NITI Aayog has taken several stabs at a long-term strategy, it now must engage in a wider and time-bound public consultation. As a growing economy that's still energy-poor, India has been a sponge, agnostically soaking in every new plant. But such an approach has its limits. A proper plan will ensure that India's clean energy transition augments energy security and improves access for all.