Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Indian gov't to amend Atomic Energy Act of 1962

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, Sept 9, IRNA
India-Atomic Energy-Act
To allow private parties to enter the nuclear trade commerce, the government on Tuesday said it will amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1962.

"Till now no private party was able to do nuclear trade and commerce. Now whatever amendment required in the law will be brought to allow them to do nuclear trade," Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters on the sidelines of a function to mark the India- Germany strategic partnership on innovation at New Delhi on Tuesday.

Sibal did not elaborate but government sources said the amendment would enable and encourage private participation in the form of investment, both from India and abroad, to help the country generate 2000 mw of power by 2020.

The first India Atomic Energy Act was put in place in 1948 when the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) was formed. It was later repealed and transformed to Atomic Energy Act in 1962.

The Act provides for development, control and use of atomic energy for welfare of people of India.

In 1971, under one of its guidelines, radiation protection rules came into force under the director, directorate of radiation protection, which was meant mainly for non-DAE units or industries.

In 1983, under section 27 of the act, regulation and safety function were delegated to the newly formed atomic energy regulation board.

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