The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is an Indian government department and the primary institution responsible for the nation's nuclear program, headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It was established on August 3, 1954, through a Presidential Order, and operates under the direct charge of the Prime Minister of India. The DAE was created to organize and promote research in atomic science, train scientists, and develop nuclear power technology, with Homi Bhabha as its first Secretary. The problem it solved was securing India's energy future and national security by utilizing its limited uranium and abundant thorium reserves through a phased Three-Stage Nuclear Power Programme.
The DAE works by managing the entire nuclear fuel cycle, which includes exploring and processing atomic minerals, fabricating nuclear fuel, operating nuclear power plants, and managing radioactive waste. The Secretary of the DAE is the ex-officio Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), which is the apex body that formulates the department's policies. The DAE's mandate extends beyond power generation to include applications of radiation technology in medicine, agriculture, and industry, and it supports numerous research institutions like the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).
The DAE's functions are governed by the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, which provides the basic regulatory framework for all activities related to atomic energy. Related institutions include the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), which is the designated regulatory body for safety, and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL), which operates the power plants.
The legal framework has recently undergone significant change: the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, was repealed and replaced by the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act in December 2025. This new legislation fundamentally shifts the DAE's state-monopoly by allowing private companies to build, own, and operate nuclear plants, a move intended to help achieve the national target of 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047.