The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025 was passed by the Lok Sabha.
The Bill aims to open India’s nuclear power sector to private participation, including foreign companies.
Despite Opposition demands, the Bill was not referred to a parliamentary standing committee.
The Bill now moves to the Rajya Sabha for consideration.
Government’s Objectives
Increase nuclear power capacity as part of India’s clean energy transition.
Support India’s 2070 net-zero emissions target.
Reduce reliance on fossil fuels and improve grid stability.
Encourage private investment to accelerate nuclear expansion.
Scale nuclear capacity from 8.8 GW currently to 100 GW by 2047.
Support new technologies such as:
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
220 MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (Bharat SMRs)
Backed by a ₹20,000-crore Nuclear Mission announced in the Union Budget.
Key Legal Change: Nuclear Liability Framework
The Bill removes a crucial clause from the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010:
Earlier, nuclear plant operators could seek recourse from suppliers if faulty equipment caused an accident.
This clause was originally introduced to:
Protect Indian public interest
Address safety concerns post-Bhopal gas tragedy
Its removal is aimed at:
Addressing foreign suppliers’ concerns over unlimited liability
Making India’s nuclear sector more attractive to global players
Historical Context
In 2008, the BJP opposed the UPA government’s nuclear policy, citing the absence of supplier liability.
Ironically, the same clause later became a deterrent to foreign participation, even after:
The India–U.S. Civil Nuclear Deal
India’s waiver from Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) restrictions
The government argues that technological advancements have changed the risk landscape since 2010.
Government’s Justification
According to Science Minister Jitendra Singh:
Reactor technology has evolved, especially with SMRs, which are:
Smaller
Designed for dense population areas
Associated with lower catastrophic risk
A graded liability regime is necessary to:
Encourage innovation
Attract private capital
Make SMR projects financially viable
Operator liability remains capped at ₹3,000 crore, but:
Additional compensation can come from:
A nuclear insurance pool
A proposed Nuclear Liability Fund, financed through tariffs
Opposition’s Major Criticisms
Public safety and accountability:
Opposition leaders argued that removing supplier liability weakens accountability.
Questioned why foreign suppliers should be shielded in case of accidents.
Liability cap concerns:
₹3,000 crore cap seen as:
Arbitrary
Inadequate
Unchanged since 2010 despite inflation
Global disaster comparisons:
Fukushima clean-up: ~$182 billion
Chernobyl impact: ~$700 billion
Indian cap: ~₹3,000 crore (~$400 million)
Demand for scrutiny:
Several MPs demanded referral to a parliamentary committee for deeper examination.
Current State of India’s Nuclear Sector
Nuclear power contributes:
~1.5% of installed capacity
~3% of electricity generation
Remains a strategic and highly regulated sector, traditionally dominated by the public sector.
Broader Implications
Represents a major shift in India’s nuclear governance framework.
Seeks to balance:
Energy security
Climate goals
Investment attractiveness
Raises unresolved questions about:
Long-term safety
Public liability
Fair risk-sharing between operators, suppliers, and the state
Success depends on:
Strong regulatory oversight
Transparent safety standards
Effective compensation mechanisms in worst-case scenarios
Commissioning of INAS 335 (Ospreys)
Key Event
INAS 335 (Ospreys), the second Indian Naval Air Squadron to operate MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, was commissioned at INS Hansa, Goa.
The ceremony was presided over by Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS).
Significance of the Commissioning
Marks a major milestone in the modernisation of Indian naval aviation, particularly rotary-wing capabilities.
Establishes the first operational MH-60R squadron on the western seaboard, strengthening maritime security in the Arabian Sea and western Indian Ocean.
Follows the commissioning of the first MH-60R squadron at Kochi in March 2024, indicating phased induction.
Capabilities of MH-60R Helicopters
MH-60R is a multi-role, advanced maritime helicopter.
Enhances:
Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW)
Surveillance and reconnaissance
Search and rescue operations
Significantly boosts the Navy’s rotary-wing combat, detection, and response capabilities.
Strategic Importance of INS Hansa
INS Hansa, located in Goa, is a critical naval air station on the western coast.
Previously hosted major capability upgrades, including:
Commissioning of the second P-8I maritime patrol aircraft squadron in 2022
Acts as a hub for long-range maritime surveillance and air operations.
Upcoming MQ-9B Sea Guardian remotely piloted aircraft (RPAs), with 15 units under acquisition
Together, these platforms enable:
Network-centric warfare
Persistent maritime domain awareness
Enhanced deterrence and rapid response
Historical Context
The commissioning holds symbolic importance as 2025 marks 75 years since the Government of India approved the formation of the Fleet Air Arm.
Highlights the evolution of Indian naval aviation from its inception to a technology-intensive force multiplier.
Overall Assessment
The commissioning of INAS 335 reflects India’s focus on:
Maritime security
Indigenisation and modernisation
Strengthening presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)
It reinforces India’s ability to address:
Submarine threats
Surface combat challenges
Surveillance gaps along key sea lanes
Represents a critical step toward a capability-driven, multi-layered maritime defence architecture.
DESERT CYCLONE–II
The Indian Army has dispatched a contingent to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to participate in the second edition of the India–UAE Joint Military Exercise, DESERT CYCLONE–II.
The joint exercise is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi from December 18 to December 30.
The Indian contingent consists of 45 personnel, mainly drawn from a Mechanised Infantry Regiment battalion, highlighting India’s focus on mechanised warfare capabilities.
The UAE Land Forces are represented by an equally sized contingent, drawn from the 53 Mechanised Infantry Battalion, ensuring parity and balanced participation.
DESERT CYCLONE–II is designed as a bilateral military engagement, reflecting the growing strategic and defence partnership between India and the UAE.
The primary objective of the exercise is to enhance interoperability, enabling both armies to operate more effectively together in joint operational scenarios.
The exercise also aims to strengthen defence cooperation, including the exchange of tactical knowledge, operational procedures, and best practices in mechanised infantry operations.
Conducting the exercise in a desert environment provides realistic training conditions relevant to regional security challenges.
The exercise underscores India’s expanding defence diplomacy and its commitment to deeper military collaboration with key partners in West Asia.
Overall, DESERT CYCLONE–II reinforces mutual trust, operational synergy, and long-term military cooperation between the Indian Army and the UAE Land Forces.
Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Ship Sarthak
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Ship Sarthak, an offshore patrol vessel, entered Chabahar Port in Iran on December 16 for a four-day visit lasting until December 19.
This visit marks the first-ever port call by an Indian Coast Guard ship to Chabahar, making it a significant milestone in India–Iran maritime engagement.
According to the Defence Ministry, the port call highlights India’s expanding maritime presence and strategic outreach in the region.
The visit underscores India’s capability and commitment to supporting secure sea lines of communication, particularly for Afghanistan and Central Asia, regions that rely on Chabahar for trade access.
Chabahar Port is strategically important as it provides India with alternative connectivity bypassing Pakistan, strengthening regional trade and logistics.
The visit aligns with India’s maritime vision frameworks of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and MAHASAGAR, which emphasize secure, inclusive, and cooperative maritime engagements.
ICG Ship Sarthak is scheduled to participate in a range of professional interactions, likely including maritime cooperation, best-practice exchanges, and capacity-building activities.
The ship will also engage in community-oriented activities, reflecting India’s emphasis on maritime diplomacy and people-to-people outreach.
Overall, the port call reinforces India’s role as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and strengthens strategic maritime partnerships in West Asia and beyond.
Uniform Definition of the Aravalli Hills and Ranges
Background & Supreme Court Intervention
In November 2025, the Supreme Court (SC) issued an order to:
Set a uniform definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges.
Pause granting new mining leases within the Aravalli areas across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
This follows decades of over-exploitation of the Aravalli range and previous legal interventions, including a 2009 SC ban on mining in select Haryana districts.
Significance of the Aravalli Range
Age & Geography: Nearly 2 billion years old, India’s oldest mountain range, stretching 650 km from Delhi to Gujarat.
Ecological Role:
Prevents desertification of the Indo-Gangetic plains.
Arrests the eastward spread of the Thar Desert into Haryana, Rajasthan, and western Uttar Pradesh.
Stabilizes climate, biodiversity, and groundwater recharge.
Hydrological Importance: Source of rivers such as Chambal, Sabarmati, and Luni; supports critical water-recharge systems.
Mineral Wealth: Sandstone, limestone, marble, granite, and metals like lead, zinc, copper, gold, tungsten.
Environmental Concerns:
Excessive quarrying over the past four decades has deteriorated air quality and groundwater recharge.
Illegal mining remains an ongoing issue.
International Commitments: India is bound by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification to protect ecosystems like the Aravallis.
Past Actions Against Mining
Environment Ministry: Rules since the early 1990s restricted mining to sanctioned projects, but violations persisted.
2009 SC Ban: Imposed in Faridabad, Gurugram, and Mewat (Haryana).
May 2024 SC Directive:
Prohibited new leases and renewals.
Directed the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to examine the range and recommend measures.
CEC Recommendations (March 2024):
Complete scientific mapping of the Aravalli range.
Macro-level environmental impact assessments for mining.
Ban mining in ecologically sensitive areas (protected habitats, water bodies, tiger corridors, aquifer recharge zones, NCR).
Regulate stone-crushing units.
No new leases until proper mapping and impact assessments are done.
June 2025 ‘Green Wall’ Project:
Expand green cover in a 5-km buffer zone across 29 districts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi.
Aim: Restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.
Need for a Uniform Definition
States and expert groups used inconsistent criteria to define Aravalli hills and ranges.
Forest Survey of India (FSI, 2010) criteria: Based on slope (>3°), foothill buffer (100m), inter-hill distance (500m), and enclosed area.
SC Committee (2025) Decision:
Only hills above 100 metres are considered part of the Aravalli range.
Objection: Too narrow, may allow mining on smaller hills, breaking the continuity of the range.
Counterpoint: Prior slope-based definitions excluded even large areas; 100m threshold is more inclusive.
SC’s Other Directions
Prepare a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) covering the entire range:
Identify areas of absolute mining prohibition.
Map zones for limited, regulated mining.
Map sensitive habitats and wildlife corridors.
Evaluate cumulative ecological impacts and ecological carrying capacity.
Articulate restoration and rehabilitation measures.
Reason for No Total Ban
Total bans often trigger:
Illegal mining syndicates.
Violent sand mafias.
Unregulated extraction.
SC opted for a calibrated approach:
Existing legal mining continues under tight regulation.
