Nuclear regulatory legislation in India and mechanism for implementation

Atomic Energy Commission of India was set up in 1948 for framing policies related to atomic energy programme in the country. Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha, founder of Atomic Energy Programme in India, drew the road map for nuclear power programme. He conceived a three stage strategy for the nuclear energy programme considering utilization of indigenous nuclear resources. The nuclear energy programme of India is extended from uranium exploration and mining through fuel fabrication, heavy water production, reactor design and construction, operation to reprocessing of spent fuel and waste management. The first Boiling Water Reactors (BWR) of the country TAPS 1 and 2 at Tarapur, Maharashtra became operational in 1969. The Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) technology was introduced in early 70s. The commissioning of fast breeder reactor and development of technologies for utilizing the abundant resources of thorium as a nuclear fuel is in progress. Apart from this, India is also expanding its nuclear energy programme by setting up imported reactors having different design and safety features