People’s Commission Expresses Deep Concern Over India’s Emerging Nuclear Strategy – Indian PSU
The People’s Commission has issued a detailed statement voicing serious concerns over a set of recent policy moves by the Indian government that it believes threaten to reverse decades of progress toward self-reliance in the nuclear sector. These developments, according to the Commission, not only expose the country to greater financial and safety risks but also compromise its long-term strategic autonomy in the field of atomic energy.
The Commission is particularly alarmed by the Union Finance Minister’s recent Budget speech, which indicated the government’s intent to consider amending key nuclear laws, namely the Atomic Energy Act and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA), to attract domestic and foreign investment. Far from welcoming this move, the Commission warns that any dilution of CLNDA would shield foreign reactor suppliers from accountability in the event of a nuclear accident. It strongly argues that the Act should instead be strengthened in line with the recommendations made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee, especially to ensure that reactor suppliers are held liable for design flaws, substandard materials, or gross negligence.
Equally worrying to the Commission is the Centre’s growing dependence on imported nuclear reactors and uranium fuel. The government’s proposal to add 100 gigawatts of nuclear capacity based on foreign technology and inputs marks a sharp departure from the vision articulated by Dr Homi Bhabha, who had laid out a three-stage nuclear programme to harness India’s own resources, especially Thorium. The shift toward foreign technology not only makes maintenance more expensive and electricity less affordable but also binds India to non-transparent contracts and volatile global fuel markets. This, the Commission argues, would undermine the ability of state electricity boards to purchase power based on merit, forcing them instead to absorb high-cost nuclear electricity.
In its statement, the Commission also raises the red flag over the Centre’s reported move to allow up to 49% foreign direct investment in nuclear power generation. While this is being framed as a means to boost domestic participation, the Commission notes that such a policy would grant foreign entities substantial influence over operations, including decisions relating to sensitive by-products of nuclear reactors. Given the strategic implications, it urges the government to exercise extreme caution.
Another disturbing development, according to the Commission, is the recent amendment to the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, which has reopened the door for private mining of beach sands. This, it says, could lead to the unregulated export of crucial atomic minerals such as Monazite and Titanium, resources essential for India’s future use of Thorium in the third stage of its nuclear power programme. The Commission recalls how earlier efforts to privatize beach sand mining had led to massive environmental degradation and corruption scandals. It insists that the government should conserve these minerals strictly for domestic use and reverse the 2023 amendment.
Adding to these concerns is the persistent failure of the government to create a truly independent nuclear regulatory body. More than a decade after the Fukushima disaster prompted global scrutiny of nuclear safety practices, India continues to rely on the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, which functions under the very department it is meant to oversee. The Commission emphasises that this institutional setup lacks both credibility and independence, and calls for urgent action to establish a separate regulatory authority, as recommended in 2012 by the Parliamentary Standing Committee.
Underlying all these concerns is a broader critique: that India is drifting away from its foundational principles of self-reliance, public accountability, and strategic foresight in the nuclear domain. By prioritising expensive and risky imports over indigenous innovation and safety, the government is not only placing enormous financial burdens on future generations but also exposing large populations to unacceptable levels of environmental and health risk. The Commission cites the global consensus that radiation risks can extend up to 80 kilometres from a nuclear power plant site, well beyond the zones currently notified by Indian authorities.
In light of these urgent issues, the People’s Commission calls upon the government to halt and reconsider these policy changes. It urges civil society, independent experts, and the media to demand transparency, public consultation, and a reaffirmation of India’s commitment to a self-reliant, secure, and sustainable nuclear future.
