As India works toward its goal of Mission 100 GWe of nuclear power capacity by 2047, attention is increasingly turning to the country’s regulatory framework. Industry stakeholders believe strong regulation remains essential for nuclear safety. However, they also believe regulatory systems must evolve to support future growth.
These recommendations are based on discussions held during INEF 2026 at IIT Bombay, where policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, researchers, and technology providers examined the reforms needed to accelerate India’s nuclear expansion.
Mission 100 GWe: Risk-Informed Licensing for Advanced Reactors
One concern raised by stakeholders relates to the licensing of advanced and standardized reactor technologies. At present, different reactor designs may face similar review requirements, even when some technologies already have well-established safety records.
As a result, review timelines can become longer than necessary. Industry participants believe regulatory effort should focus on areas that have the greatest impact on safety.
Therefore, stakeholders recommend a risk-informed licensing framework. Under this approach, the depth of review would be linked to the safety significance of each system and the maturity of the technology. Proven reactor designs could move through the process more efficiently, while novel technologies would continue to receive detailed scrutiny.
Making Safety Reviews More Predictable
Periodic Safety Reviews play an important role in maintaining nuclear safety throughout the life of a plant. However, industry stakeholders note that uncertainty around review schedules and upgrade requirements can create challenges for long-term planning.
To address this issue, they recommend a clearly defined ten-year Periodic Safety Review cycle. In addition, review requirements and acceptance criteria should be published in advance. Early engagement between operators and regulators can also improve preparation and reduce uncertainty.
Stakeholders further suggest clearly distinguishing between mandatory and recommended upgrades. This can help operators plan investments while continuing to meet safety requirements.
Mission 100 GWe: Strengthening AERB Capacity
Another important concern is regulatory capacity. As India’s nuclear programme expands, the workload and complexity of regulatory reviews are expected to increase significantly.
Industry participants believe AERB will require additional technical expertise, resources, and modern tools to manage future demands effectively. Consequently, they recommend expanding regulatory manpower and creating sustainable funding mechanisms that support long-term capability development.
Stakeholders also support the creation of an AERB Centre of Excellence focused on advanced reactor regulation. Collaboration with universities and research institutions could help develop specialized expertise for future technologies.
In addition, many participants see opportunities to use artificial intelligence and digital tools to improve regulatory efficiency, document reviews, and knowledge management.
| Recommendation Area | Concern | Expectation |
|---|---|---|
| Risk-Informed Licensing Path for Advanced & Standardised Reactors | Current licensing processes often apply the same level of review to all reactor technologies. This can impose first-of-a-kind review requirements on designs with established safety records, increasing review timelines without proportionate safety benefits. | Introduce a risk-informed and technology-inclusive licensing framework within AERB. Align the depth of review with the safety significance of systems and the maturity of the technology. Reserve the most intensive scrutiny for novel reactor features while streamlining reviews for proven designs. |
| Predictable Periodic Safety Review (PSR) Cycle | Periodic Safety Reviews are critical for maintaining nuclear safety. However, uncertainty in review scope, timelines, and upgrade requirements can affect long-term investment planning. | Establish a codified ten-year PSR cycle aligned with IAEA SSR-2/2 guidance. Publish review scope and acceptance criteria in advance. Conduct mandatory pre-review engagement 12 months before review commencement and complete reviews within a defined timeline. Clearly distinguish between mandatory and recommended upgrades. |
| AERB Capacity, Autonomy & Funding | A rapidly expanding nuclear sector requires a regulator with adequate technical expertise, resources, and operational independence. An under-resourced regulator overseeing large-scale investments can create capacity challenges. Regulatory systems must also adapt to emerging technologies and digital tools. | Strengthen AERB’s technical capacity significantly over the next five years. Establish a sustainable funding model that supports regulatory operations and capability development. Introduce measures to attract and retain specialized talent. Create an AERB Centre of Excellence for advanced reactor regulation in collaboration with academic institutions. Encourage the use of AI and digital tools to improve regulatory efficiency and decision-making. |
Preparing for the Next Phase of Nuclear Growth
The nuclear community believes India has built a strong foundation of nuclear safety and regulatory oversight. At the same time, stakeholders recognize that future growth will require new approaches.
Risk-informed licensing, predictable safety reviews, and stronger regulatory capacity can help create a more efficient and responsive system. More importantly, these reforms can support innovation while maintaining the high safety standards expected of the nuclear sector.
As India advances toward Mission 100 GWe, industry stakeholders view regulatory modernization as an important step in enabling the next phase of nuclear development.
This article is based on the policy recommendations developed during the India Nuclear Energy Forum (INEF) 2026, held at IIT Bombay on 29–30 May 2026. The forum brought together policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, researchers, startups, investors, and international experts to discuss the actions needed to accelerate India’s journey toward Mission 100 GWe of nuclear power capacity by 2047. The recommendations presented here reflect the concerns, expectations, and collective views of the Indian nuclear community on strengthening licensing, siting, and regulatory frameworks for future nuclear projects.
