Amending CLNDA India’s Gateway to Nuclear Expansion
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the U.S. and France (February 10-13, 2025), India has announced plans to amend the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA) and the Atomic Energy Act. The amendments aim to resolve long-standing concerns of foreign nuclear companies, facilitating investment and the execution of stalled projects like Electricité de France (EDF) – Six EPR1650 reactors in Maharashtra (Jaitapur), Westinghouse Electric Company – Six AP1000 reactors in Andhra Pradesh (Kovvada) and Expansion into Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology for future nuclear projects.
The proposed changes mark a shift from the government’s earlier stance of not amending the Act and are expected to help India meet its ambitious 100 GW nuclear power capacity target by 2047.
Watch: Daily Current Affairs
Summary/Static | Details |
Why in the news? | Amending CLNDA: India’s Gateway to Nuclear Expansion |
Aspect | Current Status/Proposed Changes/Expected Impact |
Liability Clause | Current Status : Supplier liability under CLNDA (2010) Proposed Changes : Reduce supplier liability, align with CSC norms Expected Impact : Attract U.S. & French investments |
Nuclear Projects | Current Status : Stalled due to liability concerns Proposed Changes : Amend CLNDA to enable foreign investment Expected Impact : Implement Jaitapur & Kovvada projects |
Energy Capacity | Current Status : 6,780 MW with 22 reactors Proposed Changes : 100 GW target by 2047 Expected Impact : Increase nuclear power share in energy mix |
Strategic Partnerships | Current Status : U.S. & France hesitant due to liability laws Proposed Changes : Amend laws to align with global standards Expected Impact : Strengthen diplomatic & economic ties |
Domestic Opposition | Current Status : Strong resistance against supplier liability dilution Proposed Changes : Possible political backlash Expected Impact : Need for careful legal balancing |
Investor Confidence | Current Status : ₹1,500 crore insurance pool (2019) underutilized Proposed Changes : Clear legal framework for compensation Expected Impact : Increase investor trust & funding |
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