SHANTI Act – Key Provisions

Full Form: Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act

Major Features

✔️ Replaces the Atomic Energy Act

✔️ Allows private sector participation in nuclear power generation

✔️ Permits the operation of nuclear power plants by private companies

✔️ Enables joint ventures with foreign companies

✔️ Encourages technology transfer & investment

✔️ Strengthens regulatory & safety frameworks (expected objective)

Purpose

Expand nuclear capacity
Attract capital & innovation
Support clean energy transition

⚖️ SHANTI Act vs Atomic Energy Act

Aspect	Atomic Energy Act	SHANTI Act
Control	Government monopoly	Opens sector
Private Role	Not allowed in plant operation	Allowed
Foreign Collaboration	Highly restricted	Permitted via JVs
Objective	Strategic control & safety	Expansion + investment
Sector Structure	NPCIL dominated	Multi-player possibility

UPSC Insight

👉 Shift from state-exclusive → regulated participation model

⚡ Nuclear Energy in India’s Energy Mix

Current Status

✔️ Installed capacity: ~8.8 GW

✔️ Share in electricity generation: ~3%

✔️ Government target: ~32 GW (next decade goal)

Comparison

Coal → dominant
Renewables → rapidly growing
Nuclear → small but strategic

Why Low Share?

🔹 High capital cost

🔹 Long gestation period

🔹 Safety concerns

🔹 Regulatory constraints

🌱 Advantages of Nuclear Energy

1️⃣ Low Carbon Emissions

✔️ Supports climate commitments

✔️ Clean baseload power

2️⃣ Reliable & Stable

✔️ Not weather-dependent

✔️ Continuous generation

3️⃣ Energy Security

✔️ Reduces fossil fuel dependence

4️⃣ High Energy Density

✔️ Small fuel → large energy output

5️⃣ Land Efficiency

✔️ Less land than solar/wind for the same output

⚠️ Limitations (Exam-Ready Add-on)

🔹 Radioactive waste disposal

🔹 Safety & accident risks

🔹 High setup costs

🔹 Public opposition

🔹 Long construction timelines

🏭 Role of Private Sector in Nuclear Energy

Potential Benefits

✔️ Capital infusion

✔️ Faster project execution

✔️ Technological innovation

✔️ Reduced fiscal burden on government

Concerns

⚠️ Safety compliance

⚠️ Liability in accidents

⚠️ National security sensitivity

⚠️ Profit vs public safety debate

🧠 Prelims-Oriented MCQ Traps

❌ “Nuclear energy is renewable” → Wrong (it is non-renewable but low-carbon)

❌ “India gets majority electricity from nuclear” → Wrong

❌ “Private sector earlier allowed to operate nuclear plants” → Wrong

✍️ Mains Value Addition Line

“Opening the nuclear sector to private participation marks a structural shift in India’s energy governance, balancing strategic control with developmental needs.”

📘 MCQ 1 – SHANTI Act

Q1. With reference to the SHANTI Act, consider the following statements:

It replaces the Atomic Energy Act.
It allows private companies to operate nuclear power plants.
It prohibits joint ventures with foreign companies.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only

B. 2 and 3 only

C. 1 and 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3

✅ Answer: A

Explanation:

✔️ Replaces the Atomic Energy Act

✔️ Allows private participation

❌ Does NOT prohibit foreign JVs (permits them)

📘 MCQ 2 – Nuclear Energy Basics

Q2. Which of the following best describes nuclear energy in India’s power sector?

A. Renewable and intermittent energy source

B. Non-renewable but low-carbon baseload energy

C. Fossil fuel-based high-emission energy

D. Seasonal energy source

✅ Answer: B

Explanation:

Nuclear uses uranium → non-renewable
Very low greenhouse gas emissions
Provides continuous baseload power

📘 MCQ 3 – Energy Mix

Q3. The approximate share of nuclear energy in India’s electricity generation is:

A. 15%

B. 10%

C. 3%

D. 25%

✅ Answer: C

Explanation:

India’s nuclear share ≈ 3%

📘 MCQ 4 – Private Sector Role

Q4. Which of the following is/are potential advantages of allowing private sector participation in nuclear energy?

Faster capacity expansion
Increased capital investment
Elimination of safety concerns

A. 1 only

B. 1 and 2 only

C. 2 and 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3

✅ Answer: B

Explanation:

✔️ Faster expansion

✔️ More investment

❌ Safety concerns can NEVER be “eliminated”

📘 MCQ 5 – Limitations of Nuclear Energy

Q5. Which of the following is a major challenge associated with nuclear power?

A. High greenhouse gas emissions

B. Radioactive waste management

C. Dependence on monsoon

D. Low energy density

✅ Answer: B

Explanation:

Nuclear is low-carbon
Not monsoon-dependent
Very high energy density
Waste disposal = key issue

📘 A–R MCQ 1 – SHANTI Act

Assertion (A): The SHANTI Act allows private companies to operate nuclear power plants in India.

Reason (R): The SHANTI Act replaces the Atomic Energy Act, which earlier restricted nuclear plant operation primarily to the government.

A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A

B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A

C. A is true, but R is false

D. A is false, but R is true

✅ Answer: A

Explanation:

✔️ SHANTI Act opens sector

✔️ Replacement of the Atomic Energy Act explains the change

📘 A–R MCQ 2 – Nuclear Energy Nature

Assertion (A): Nuclear energy is considered a clean source of energy.

Reason (R): Nuclear power plants emit negligible greenhouse gases during electricity generation.

A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A

B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A

C. A is true, but R is false

D. A is false, but R is true

✅ Answer: A

Explanation:

✔️ “Clean” due to low emissions

✔️ R directly explains A

📘 A–R MCQ 3 – Share in Energy Mix

Assertion (A): Nuclear energy contributes significantly to India’s electricity generation.

Reason (R): India’s installed nuclear capacity is relatively small compared to coal and renewables.

A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation

B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation

C. A is true, but R is false

D. A is false, but R is true

✅ Answer: D

Explanation:

❌ Nuclear share (~3%) is NOT significant

✔️ R is true → capacity is small

📘 A–R MCQ 4 – Baseload Power

Assertion (A): Nuclear power is suitable for baseload electricity generation.

Reason (R): Nuclear plants provide continuous and stable power output.

A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation

B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation

C. A is true, but R is false

D. A is false, but R is true

✅ Answer: A

Explanation:

✔️ Continuous output → baseload suitability

📘 A–R MCQ 5 – Private Sector Concerns

Assertion (A): Private sector participation in nuclear energy raises safety concerns.

Reason (R): Nuclear accidents can have catastrophic environmental and human consequences.

A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation

B. Both A and R are true, but R is not correct explanation

C. A is true, but R is false

D. A is false, but R is true

✅ Answer: A

Explanation:

✔️ Safety concerns arise precisely because consequences are severe

📘 MCQ 1 – Nuclear Energy & Climate

Q1. Which of the following statements regarding nuclear energy is/are correct?

It is a renewable source of energy.
It produces negligible greenhouse gas emissions during operation.
It is suitable for baseload power generation.

A. 2 and 3 only

B. 1 and 2 only

C. 1 and 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3

✅ Answer: A

Explanation:

❌ Not renewable (uses uranium)

✔️ Low GHG emissions

✔️ Continuous baseload supply

📘 MCQ 2 – India’s Nuclear Sector

Q2. With reference to nuclear power in India, consider the following statements:

Nuclear energy contributes more than 10% of India’s electricity generation.
India’s nuclear power programme is primarily operated by a government-owned entity.
India aims to significantly expand its nuclear capacity.

A. 1 and 2 only

B. 2 and 3 only

C. 1 and 3 only

D. 3 only

✅ Answer: B

Explanation:

❌ Share ≈ 3%, not >10%

✔️ NPCIL (government-owned)

✔️ Expansion targets exist

📘 MCQ 3 – SHANTI Act Reform Logic

Q3. The SHANTI Act primarily seeks to address which of the following challenges?

A. Shortage of nuclear fuel reserves

B. Limited participation and investment in nuclear energy

C. Excess nuclear capacity

D. Reduction of renewable energy share

✅ Answer: B

Explanation:

Focus → Opening sector + attracting capital/technology

📘 MCQ 4 – Advantages vs Risks

Q4. Which of the following is a major advantage of nuclear power over solar and wind energy?

A. Zero environmental concerns

B. Low capital investment

C. Continuous power generation

D. No waste generation

✅ Answer: C

Explanation:

✔️ Nuclear = stable baseload

❌ High capital cost

❌ Waste exists

📘 MCQ 5 – Private Sector Participation

Q5. Consider the following statements about private sector participation in nuclear energy:

It can accelerate capacity expansion.
It completely removes safety risks.
It reduces financial burden on government.

A. 1 only

B. 1 and 3 only

C. 2 and 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3

✅ Answer: B

Explanation:

✔️ Faster expansion possible

✔️ Govt burden reduced

❌ Safety risks never “completely removed”

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