Atomic Energy Act, 1962
Legal Basis for India's Nuclear Programme
The Atomic Energy Act, 1962 is the foundational legislation governing all nuclear activities in India. It vests ownership of all atomic minerals and fissile materials in the central government, and empowers the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) — established in 1948 under Homi J. Bhabha — to direct the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). The Act restricts information about nuclear activities in the interest of national security and mandates parliamentary oversight only in limited form.
- Establishes the three-stage nuclear power programme: natural uranium PHWRs → fast breeder reactors → thorium-based reactors
- Gives DAE exclusive authority over uranium, plutonium, and thorium mining and processing
- Amended in 2015 to allow private sector participation in nuclear liability frameworks
● Tracked since March 01, 2026 · last seen May 18, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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