Panel Backs 49% FDI, Legal Reforms For India’s Nuclear Sector

16 Oct 2025 CW Team

The inter-ministerial committee, set up to chart a roadmap for achieving 100 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power capacity by 2047, has proposed opening the sector to foreign players and revamping India’s legal and insurance framework to attract global participation. At present, foreign investment is not permitted in India’s nuclear energy industry.

As per the panel’s recommendations, the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act should be amended to:

Clarify that operators are protected from liability under other laws.

Ensure that supplier liability is capped and explicitly defined in contractual agreements with operators — a key concern for international nuclear equipment suppliers.

The committee is co-chaired by P. S. Karthigeyan, Joint Secretary at the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), and Ajay Talegaonkar, Member of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). It also includes representatives from the DAE, Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL), NTPC, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), and the Ministry of Power, according to the report.

The panel further recommended strengthening insurance coverage under the Indian Nuclear Insurance Pool (INIP), managed by the General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re). It proposed that operators be insured for up to Rs 15 billion per incident, compared with the current floater policy, which would require enhancing the pool’s financial capacity.

The committee’s report also details India’s 100 GW nuclear energy vision, with:

46.5 GW from indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs),

38.8 GW from Pressurised Water Reactors (PWRs), and

5 GW each from Bharat Small Modular Reactors (BSMRs), Bharat Small Reactors (BSRs), and Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs).

It also called for allowing licensed private-sector participation in activities related to nuclear fuel handling and component manufacturing.

The government is reportedly reviewing amendments to both the Atomic Energy Act and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act to pave the way for private and foreign involvement in nuclear power generation, marking a major policy shift for the sector.

A government-appointed panel has recommended allowing up to 49 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in India’s nuclear power sector, alongside amendments to existing civil liability laws to protect plant operators and cap supplier liability, according to a report by the Economic Times. The inter-ministerial committee, set up to chart a roadmap for achieving 100 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power capacity by 2047, has proposed opening the sector to foreign players and revamping India’s legal and insurance framework to attract global participation. At present, foreign investment is not permitted in India’s nuclear energy industry. As per the panel’s recommendations, the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act should be amended to: Clarify that operators are protected from liability under other laws. Ensure that supplier liability is capped and explicitly defined in contractual agreements with operators — a key concern for international nuclear equipment suppliers. The committee is co-chaired by P. S. Karthigeyan, Joint Secretary at the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), and Ajay Talegaonkar, Member of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). It also includes representatives from the DAE, Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL), NTPC, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), and the Ministry of Power, according to the report. The panel further recommended strengthening insurance coverage under the Indian Nuclear Insurance Pool (INIP), managed by the General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re). It proposed that operators be insured for up to Rs 15 billion per incident, compared with the current floater policy, which would require enhancing the pool’s financial capacity. The committee’s report also details India’s 100 GW nuclear energy vision, with: 46.5 GW from indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), 38.8 GW from Pressurised Water Reactors (PWRs), and 5 GW each from Bharat Small Modular Reactors (BSMRs), Bharat Small Reactors (BSRs), and Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs). It also called for allowing licensed private-sector participation in activities related to nuclear fuel handling and component manufacturing. The government is reportedly reviewing amendments to both the Atomic Energy Act and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act to pave the way for private and foreign involvement in nuclear power generation, marking a major policy shift for the sector.

Technology

29 Jul 2026

AI-Enabled Workflows Lift Profitability and Productivity

Organisations modernising frontline workflows with artificial intelligence, automation and real-time data are reporting stronger financial performance, higher productivity and improved employee engagement, according to a global study by Zebra Technologies and Oxford Economics.The research covered 1,000 senior leaders across retail, manufacturing, transportation and logistics in the US, Mexico, the UK, Germany, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.In transportation and logistics, 54 per cent of companies that improved picking and packing operations reported faster operational performance, wh..

Real Estate

29 Jul 2026

India Leads Global AI Readiness but Implementation Lags

Indian companies lead global averages across all eight artificial intelligence readiness indicators tracked by JLL, but only 19 per cent have started making changes to their workplaces, according to the JLL 2026 Future of Work Survey.The study found that 77 per cent of Indian business leaders expect AI to change their office requirements, creating a 58-percentage-point gap between awareness and implementation. The survey covered more than 2,200 CEOs, CFOs and real estate leaders across 21 countries during the first quarter of 2026.Despite concerns over automation, 58 per cent of Indian leaders..

Equipment

29 Jul 2026

Three WOLFF Cranes Build Riyadh Cable-Stayed Bridges

Three WOLFF 180 B luffing jib cranes are supporting the construction of two cable-stayed bridges alongside the existing Wadi Laban Bridge in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The project is being developed for the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and executed by the ICRC joint venture comprising IC Ictas and Al Rashid Trading & Contracting Company.The cranes are handling lifting operations including formwork, reinforcement, concrete placement, work platforms, surveying equipment and other construction materials. Each crane is fitted with a 40 m jib, reaches a hook height of 157 m and offers a maximum ..