India Unlocks Nuclear Research for Private Sector in Landmark Policy Shift

In a historic first, India has thrown open the doors of nuclear research to private players, signalling a transformative shift in the country's science and technology landscape. The move is expected to catalyse fresh investment, broaden private sector participation, and deepen international collaborations in cutting-edge fields such as advanced cancer care, diagnostics, oncology research, and genetic medicine. The decision coincided with a visit by a United States industry delegation that held detailed discussions with the Union Minister for Science and Technology in New Delhi. The engagement was further bolstered when U.S. Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, met Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh to explore expanded bilateral partnerships spanning skilling, investment, knowledge exchange, biotechnology, quantum technologies, space, atomic energy, and nuclear medicine. Drawing a parallel with the space sector, Dr Singh noted that opening space exploration to private stakeholders over the past five to six years had delivered a significant leap forward — and expressed confidence that a similar trajectory awaited the nuclear domain through partnerships with trusted global collaborators.