Nuclear energy is often called ‘clean energy,’ but this label applies only to reactor operation and not to the full lifecycle from uranium mining to radioactive waste disposal. Critically examine India’s ecological readiness to manage this full lifecycle as it scales nuclear capacity to 100 GW by 2047 under the SHANTI Act, 2025.

According to IPCC, Nuclear power emits only about 12 gCO₂e/kWh during electricity generation as compared to Coal’s 800 g CO₂e/kWh. However India's target of 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047 under the SHAKTI Act, 2025 must be judged on the sustainability of its entire nuclear lifecycle.

Issues in India’s readiness:

• Huge lifecycle of the radioactive waste for example, Plutonium-239 remains radioactive for about 24000 years.
• Huge chances of groundwater contamination if not properly managed, for eg, groundwater contamination and biodiversity loss near Jaduguda mines.
• Lack of Deep Geological Repository (DGR) for permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste.
• Coastal nuclear plants such as Kudankulam and Jaitapur face growing risks from sea-level rise, cyclones and thermal pollution.
• Limited transparency and public participation continue to affect environmental confidence.

However, recently India has taken following steps to increase its readiness:

• Three-stage nuclear programme and closed fuel cycle minimise highlevel waste.
• Institutions such as AERB, NPCIL and stringent EIA procedures provide an established regulatory framework.

Therefore, the success of the SHANTI Act, 2025, will ultimately be measured not merely by achieving the target of 100 GW nuclear capacity, but by the governance framework that ensures safety from uranium mining to final waste disposal.