• ¨     Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) issued the draft Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy (SHANTI) Rules, 2026 on 14 August 2026.

    ¨     The draft rules seek to replace several older civil nuclear and radiation protection frameworks in India.

    ¨     They establish provisions related to nuclear liability, insurance and financial security for operators of nuclear installations.

    ¨     Nuclear installation operators will be required to maintain insurance, financial security, or both against civil nuclear damage.

    ¨     The operator’s liability for nuclear damage will be based on strict and no-fault liability.

    ¨     The liability framework will also cover nuclear damage occurring during the transportation of nuclear material.

    ¨     Under the no-fault liability principle, compensation can be claimed without proving negligence or fault on the part of the operator.

    ¨     The rules link civil nuclear liability with operator responsibility, financial security and compensation mechanisms.

    ¨     An operator’s financial security must be irrevocable and remain valid until all spent nuclear fuel is removed from storage pools.

    ¨     If shares, bonds or other financial instruments are pledged to the Central Government as security, the operator must maintain a security margin of 1:1.33.

    ¨     Any shortfall in the required financial security must be covered immediately by the operator.