United States Ambassador to India Sergio Gor met with Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), on Wednesday in Mumbai to congratulate him on the enactment of the SHANTI Act. The meeting underscores the growing partnership between the two nations in the energy sector.
SHANTI Act: A Game-Changer for Nuclear Energy
The SHANTI Act, which received presidential assent in December last year, marks a significant shift in India's nuclear policy. It permits private sector entities to establish nuclear facilities and engage in activities related to the production, use, and disposal of nuclear energy under a license from the Central Government and safety authorization from the Regulatory Board. The Act aims to promote and develop nuclear energy and ionizing radiation for power generation and non-power applications, ensuring safe and secure utilization.
In a post on X, Ambassador Gor stated: "The United States is charting the future of energy security, and India is one of our consequential partners. I met Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary of India's Department of Atomic Energy, congratulating him on the passage of the SHANTI Act."
Deepening Civil Nuclear Cooperation
Earlier in the day, Gor addressed the 'Vision India 2047' CITI 2026 India event in Mumbai, where he emphasized the US commitment to deepening civil nuclear cooperation with India. He highlighted the potential for private sector-led solutions to meet India's growing power demand. "We are pushing our Civil Nuclear sector partnership to new levels," Gor said, describing the sector as a "very big growth area over the next few years."
Gor noted that the US Embassy recently hosted member companies of the US Nuclear Energy Institute in India to share insights on how a vibrant private sector-led civil nuclear industry can contribute to safe and secure nuclear power. This collaboration aims to leverage private sector capabilities to expand India's nuclear capacity, with Gor expressing optimism about "decades of future cooperation." He stressed that long-term investments will require support from the financial services sector and American businesses, framing it as a "win-win situation" for both economies.
Critical Minerals Framework and TRUST Initiative
Gor also highlighted the recent signing of the Critical Minerals Framework with India, calling it a "massive milestone" that will ensure foundational elements for advanced technology and energy are available within trusted networks. The comments come as the US and India expand the TRUST Initiative, launched in February 2025, which targets strategic technologies including AI, semiconductors, quantum computing, and critical minerals. Gor linked nuclear energy to the broader goal of securing trusted supply chains, stating, "Together, we will undertake efforts to protect sensitive supply chains from coercive market practices and reduce our collective vulnerability to single-source monopolies."
High-Level Engagement and Future Outlook
Gor pointed to high-level engagement as a signal of Washington's commitment, noting visits by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other cabinet officials. He quoted Secretary Rubio's remarks at the 'Freedom 250' event: "If I think about all of the key issues and all of the key opportunities of the modern economy, India and the United States together, are perfectly positioned to work together on these issues to achieve a better life for the people of the United States, for the people of India."
With India's power demand projected to rise sharply, the civil nuclear roadmap envisions decades of cooperation, anchored by private sector participation, investment from financial institutions, and joint work by US and Indian entrepreneurs. The Embassy, Gor added, is taking a "results-driven" approach to identify sectoral opportunities that benefit both nations.
