India and US discuss developments in civil nuclear cooperation

India and the United States have once again demonstrated the depth of their strategic partnership through high-level discussions on civil nuclear cooperation. On a significant diplomatic day in Washington, Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Ajit Kumar Mohanty met with US Energy Secretary Chris Wright to review progress and chart future pathways in bilateral nuclear collaboration. This meeting gains particular importance as it was held just ahead of the launch of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Atomic Technologies Licensed for Applications (ATLA) initiative — a global platform aimed at facilitating peaceful nuclear technology transfer for healthcare, agriculture, water management, and industrial applications. To understand the weight of this engagement, one must trace back to the historic India-US Civil Nuclear Agreement of 2008, popularly known as the 123 Agreement. This landmark deal ended decades of nuclear isolation for India following its 1974 and 1998 nuclear tests. It was made possible only after India secured a waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in 2008, backed strongly by the US, and concluded an India-specific safeguards agreement with the IAEA. The agreement recognized India as a responsible nuclear power with advanced technology, despite not being a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The constitutional and legal framework enabling such cooperation rests on several pillars. Article 246 of the Indian Constitution places atomic energy in the Union List (Entry 54), giving Parliament exclusive legislative power. The Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and its subsequent amendments provide the statutory basis for nuclear regulation, development, and international cooperation. The Nuclear Liability Act, 2010 (Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act), though controversial, established a legal regime for compensation in case of nuclear accidents — a key concern for foreign suppliers like Westinghouse and GE-Hitachi. Key stakeholders in this evolving partnership include the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), and the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) on the Indian side, and the US Department of Energy (DOE), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and major reactor vendors on the American side. The recent meeting between Mohanty and Wright signals renewed momentum after years of slow progress on reactor projects — notably the six AP1000 reactors proposed at Kovvada, Andhra Pradesh, by Westinghouse, which have faced delays due to liability concerns and financing issues. For India, the significance is multi-dimensional. Economically, nuclear power offers a stable, low-carbon baseload to complement renewable energy in achieving the target of 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 and net-zero by 2070. Politically, deepening nuclear ties reinforces the strategic convergence under the Quad and the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET). Socially, nuclear applications in cancer treatment (via isotopes), food irradiation, and water desalination directly impact public welfare. Looking ahead, the ATLA initiative could be a game-changer by streamlining access to licensed nuclear technologies for developing nations. India, with its mature nuclear fuel cycle and growing export ambitions (e.g., to Africa and Southeast Asia), stands to both contribute and benefit. Future implications include possible resolution of the nuclear liability impasse, acceleration of reactor construction, and joint R&D in small modular reactors (SMRs) and fusion energy. As the global energy transition accelerates, India-US nuclear cooperation is poised to remain a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship — blending science, diplomacy, and sustainable development.