SHANTI or surrender? an unsettling shift in India’s nuclear liability regime and governance
the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act of 2010 did not confine liability solely to plant operators—the entities that run nuclear facilities—but extended it to suppliers as well. These suppliers include manufacturers and vendors of reactors, components, fuel and nuclear technology. Clause 17(b) of the 2010 Act empowered operators to seek compensation from suppliers if a nuclear incident resulted from defective equipment or substandard materials, preventing any link in the supply chain from evading responsibility.
Russia and France chose to work within India’s legal framework. American corporations...created a geopolitical impasse, chilling US
nuclear bids in India despite the landmark 2008 Indo–US Civil Nuclear Agreement... sought to dilute Clause 17(b), with the argument that it diverged from international frameworks such as the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage.
SHANTI 2025 decisively removes supplier liability, placing full accountability on the plant owner—typically a public-sector entity such as the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)
Aravalli, India’s backbone, is on the verge of breaking https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/aravalli-indias-backbone-is-on-the-verge-of-breaking Rajendra Singh, National Herald, 28th December 2025 Mine owners slapped dozens of false cases against me; the police too harassed me.
But back then, there were laws to protect environmental activists—and those laws were enforced. In those days, the mountain and its
protectors were safe from mining predators. Today, who knows what has changed, but no one is willing to heed the anguish of the
Aravallis. Those who understand it want to save it, but the saviours today have their back to the wall.
Why Lokpal’s Reports Haven’t Reached Parliament in 3 Years? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eku62nHfzoM Shristi Jaiswal The Wire Jan 21, 2026 Lokpal was created as an independent watchdog to fight corruption at the highest levels of power, but serious questions are now being raised about its autonomy. In this video, The Wire’s Shruti Sharma speaks to journalist Srishti Jaswal, the author of an investigative report that reveals that Lokpal’s annual reports have not been tabled in Parliament for the last three years. The discussion explores why these reports were delayed, where the system is breaking down, and what this means for transparency and democratic accountability. Does this failure point to a deeper problem with Lokpal’s independence? Watch the full conversation.
https://thewire.in/government/why-lokpal-annual-reports-havent-been-tabled-in-parliament-for-three-years “Since appointment for presentation of Annual Report for the Year 2022-23 and Year 2023-24 and also for the year 2024-25 did not materialize in spite of best possible efforts, it was decided by the Full Bench of Lokpal (Chairperson and six Members) to present both the Annual Reports (combined for 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 and another for 2024-2025), with a forwarding letter and a letter of the Chairperson to the Hon’ble President of India.” (sic)