The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) is an institution, a regulatory body constituted by the President of India on November 15, 1983, to ensure that the use of nuclear energy and ionizing radiation does not pose an undue risk to public health and the environment. It was created by exercising the powers conferred by the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, to carry out specific regulatory and safety functions. Before its formation, safety functions were handled by the Department of Atomic Energy's (DAE) Safety Review Committee and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre's (BARC) Division of Radiological Protection.
The AERB's regulatory authority is derived from the rules and notifications promulgated under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Its mechanism involves developing Safety Codes, Guides, and Standards for nuclear and radiation facilities, and granting consents for siting, construction, commissioning, operation, and decommissioning after a safety review. The AERB also enforces compliance through regulatory inspections and administers the provisions of the Factories Act, 1948, for industrial safety in DAE units under its purview.
A significant recent change is the introduction of the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025, which aims to replace the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010. The SHANTI Act, 2025, grants statutory status to the AERB, strengthening its regulatory independence and making it accountable to Parliament. This legislative overhaul is part of a plan to expand India's nuclear capacity and enable private sector participation.