Rajya Sabha passes Bill to allow private firms in nuclear sector, Pg13

Key Highlights:

• The Rajya Sabha passed the SHANTI Bill to allow private firms in the nuclear sector.
• The government aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and increase atomic energy capacity.
• Opposition MPs raised concerns about liability norms and potential risks of privatization.
• The government assured that safety will not be compromised and cited the reliability of nuclear power.

Detailed Insights:

• The SHANTI Bill aims to create an investment-ready framework in the nuclear sector by ending fragmented governance.
• The government views this as a partnership with accountability, not privatization, to boost the sector.
• Concerns were raised that the bill could dismantle India’s nuclear safety framework by opening the sector to private and foreign entities.
• The National Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Engineers, along with trade unions and Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), oppose the bill, fearing large-scale private participation.
• The nuclear deal between India and America in 2008 paved the way for the current bill, despite initial opposition.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Liability Norms: Rules determining responsibility for damages caused by nuclear incidents.
• Privatization: Transfer of ownership from public to private entities.
• Fossil Fuels: Combustible geological deposits of organic matter, like coal and petroleum, used for energy.