VOI World/ Desk
India and the United States discussed opportunities to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in nuclear energy during a meeting in Washington, as New Delhi seeks to rapidly expand its nuclear power capacity and open the sector to greater private participation.
Atomic Energy Commission Chairman A K Mohanty and US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright held discussions on Wednesday on strengthening Indo-US nuclear ties for mutual benefit. The meeting took place on the sidelines of an International Atomic Energy Agency initiative focused on offshore atomic energy technologies.
The talks come as India targets 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047, with the expansion expected to involve both government and private participation in the sector.
India’s nuclear sector underwent a major policy shift with the passage of the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act in December 2025, which opened the country’s nuclear energy sector to private participation.
The Department of Atomic Energy also launched a public consultation on August 17 on draft rules under the new law, aimed at modernising India’s nuclear regulatory framework.
The US-India discussions also come amid growing international interest in new nuclear technologies, including small modular reactors and offshore nuclear power. The IAEA initiative under which the meeting took place is examining the use of small modular reactors to power civilian ships and provide offshore energy.
For India, deeper cooperation with the US could support access to nuclear technology, investment and expertise as the country seeks to scale up low-carbon power generation. The talks also come as companies and global nuclear technology providers assess opportunities created by India’s newly opened nuclear sector.
