Indian regulations for safety, security and disposal of spent sealed sources

Sealed sources find extensive applications in nucleonic devices. These sources have a limited operational life, after which they are to be disposed of safely as ''Spent Sources'' on account of their potential radiation hazards. Fatal radiation accidents and wide spread contamination of products and public areas have been caused by negligent disposal of these sources. Hence, attention is focused to improve the safety status of spent sources and the role of regulatory process is receiving due importance. It involves a comprehensive legislation, a regulatory authority, requisite technical financial and personnel resources, and adequate disposal facilities as brought out in this paper, describing Indian regulations as an example. (author)