NITI Aayog Leads Stakeholder Consultation on SHANTI Act 2025
New Delhi, July 11: NITI Aayog convened a Stakeholder Consultation on Implementation of the SHANTI Act 2025 at Samrasta Auditorium, Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi. The consultation, held on Friday, brought together key leaders, policymakers, and experts from government, research institutions, and industry to deliberate on the operational framework of the landmark Act.
Key Dignitaries and Leadership
The stakeholder consultation was chaired by Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Member of NITI Aayog. Other prominent dignitaries included Pankaj Agrawal (Secretary, Ministry of Power), Sh. Ghanshyam Prasad (Chairperson, Central Electricity Authority), Gurdeep Singh (CMD, NTPC Ltd.), Dr. Anshu Bharadwaj (Programme Director, NITI Aayog), Rajnath Ram (Adviser, NITI Aayog), Dr. Garima Sharma (Head, SSSD, Department of Atomic Energy), and Hari Kumar (Distinguished Scientist and Director, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board).
Technical Discussions on Three Critical Pillars
The technical discussions were structured around three critical pillars vital to the Act's successful rollout. The first pillar, Legislative & Regulatory Framework, focused on the SHANTI Act's draft rules, regulations, and related FDI policy provisions. The opening technical segment presented the statutory compliance mechanisms under the SHANTI Act, 2025, highlighting how foreign capital can be attracted while safeguarding domestic interests.
Finance, Insurance, and Public Perception
The second pillar, Finance, Insurance & Public Perception, examined the financial mechanisms and risk-mitigation frameworks needed to support the Act's implementation. Stakeholders discussed suitable insurance arrangements for long-term projects, along with strategies to strengthen public awareness, community trust, and broader acceptance of nuclear energy projects.
Manufacturing, Operations, and Capacity Building
The third pillar, Manufacturing, Operations & Capacity Building, focused on the operationalization phase. Emphasis was placed on strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities, ensuring operational readiness, and building a skilled workforce to sustain the ecosystem. Stakeholders also discussed enhancing supply chain resilience and designing dedicated capacity-building programmes to support industrial scaling and develop a highly competent human resource base.
Outcome and Next Steps
Stakeholders provided a range of views across all three critical areas, which will be useful in strengthening the implementation framework of the SHANTI Act, 2025. The consultation marks a significant step in operationalizing India's nuclear energy policy, with the government aiming to expand nuclear power capacity while ensuring safety, public acceptance, and domestic industrial participation.
