The "Atomic Energy Regulatory Body" in India is the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), an institution that functions as the national nuclear regulatory body. The AERB was formally constituted on November 15, 1983, by the President of India. Its creation was an exercise of the powers conferred by Section 27 of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, to carry out regulatory and safety functions. The problem it solved was the need for an independent authority to oversee and enforce safety standards, which were previously managed by internal committees like the Department of Atomic Energy Safety Review Committee (DAE-SRC).
The AERB's primary mission is to ensure that the use of ionizing radiation and nuclear energy in India does not cause undue risk to public health or the environment. Its regulatory authority is derived from the rules and notifications promulgated under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The mechanism of its work involves developing safety codes and standards, granting mandatory consents for critical stages of nuclear projects (like the First Pour of Concrete), and conducting multi-tier safety reviews. It also enforces radiological protection provisions in both Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and non-DAE facilities, such as medical and industrial radiation installations.
The AERB connects directly to the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, which is its foundational statute, and the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), under whose administrative control it currently functions. Related institutions include the Safety Review Committee for Operating Plants (SARCOP), which monitors the safety of operating DAE units and was formed by integrating the DAE-SRC into the AERB in 1987. A significant recent change is the passage of the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025, which is set to repeal the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010. The SHANTI Act, 2025, grants statutory recognition to the AERB and modernizes the legal framework to enable limited private participation in the nuclear sector.