Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Nuclear liability caps under SHANTI Act to undergo five-year review
The SHANTI Act sets limits on how much nuclear plant operators may have to pay after nuclear damage.
The new draft rules say these limits should be checked every five years.
The government would create a group of experts to do this review.
The group could include scientists, engineers, insurance specialists, lawyers and public-interest representatives.
It could suggest changing the limits if needed.
The limits are different depending on the size of a nuclear installation.
This replaces the previous single limit of ₹1,500 crore.
The Department of Atomic Energy released the draft rules on August 14.
Draft rules propose reviewing nuclear operators’ liability caps every five years.
An expert group would assess the maximum limits of operators’ civil liability for nuclear damage.
The Centre may include experts in nuclear science, engineering, actuarial science, insurance and law.
Public-interest representatives would also be part of the proposed review group.
SHANTI Act’s graded caps replace the earlier flat ₹1,500-crore limit under the 2010 liability law.
- Who
- The Department of Atomic Energy, the Centre, nuclear operators and a proposed expert review group.
- What
- Draft rules would establish five-year reviews of graded nuclear operator liability caps under the SHANTI Act.
- When
- The draft rules were released on August 14; reviews would occur every five years.
- Where
- The rules concern India’s nuclear liability framework; no specific location is stated.
- Why
- To review the maximum civil-liability limits for nuclear damage and recommend changes to the Act’s second schedule.
- Review frequency
- Every five years
- Relevant provision
- Rule 78 of the draft rules
- Review body
- An expert group formed by the Centre
- Expertise listed
- Nuclear science and engineering, actuarial science, insurance and law
- Additional representation
- Public-interest representatives
- Limits under SHANTI Act
- Graded according to the size of a nuclear installation
- Previous limit
- A flat ₹1,500 crore under the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010