India and France reaffirmed their commitment to expanding civil nuclear cooperation. The announcement follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to France, where he met President Emmanuel Macron to review progress across key bilateral initiatives, including nuclear energy collaboration.
During the visit, both leaders welcomed the transformative impact of India’s SHANTI Act, which modernizes India’s nuclear regulatory framework and enables limited private sector and foreign direct investment in the civil nuclear domain. The Act replaces legacy legislation and opens new avenues for joint development of small modular reactors (SMRs) and advanced modular reactors (AMRs).
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that India has invited French nuclear companies to explore direct participation in India’s evolving nuclear ecosystem, either independently or in partnership with Indian private firms. Both sides agreed to maintain close engagement between technical agencies to accelerate collaboration.
A key focus of the discussions was the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project in Maharashtra, envisioned as the world’s largest nuclear power station. India and France reviewed ongoing negotiations between EDF and NPCIL, which include updated reactor specifications, enhanced localization of components, and new financing models aligned with the SHANTI Act’s provisions. Both governments reiterated their commitment to advancing the project while addressing technical, financial, and environmental considerations.
France highlighted its continued support for training Indian engineers and technicians in EPR‑specific competencies, strengthening India’s long‑term operational capabilities in advanced nuclear technologies.
India and France underscored that civil nuclear cooperation remains a cornerstone of their special global strategic partnership, contributing to shared goals in clean energy, technological innovation, and long‑term energy security.
Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron met at a moment when India–France ties are already at their strongest — elevated earlier this year to a special global strategic partnership. Their Paris conversation placed civil nuclear cooperation alongside defense, space, and technology as a defining pillar of the relationship.
The SHANTI Act’s passage in 2025 fundamentally changed the rules of engagement. By replacing India’s 1962 Atomic Energy Act and the 2010 liability framework, it cleared long‑standing barriers that had discouraged foreign suppliers. For France — home to one of the world’s most advanced nuclear industries — the reform was a long‑awaited opening.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri put it plainly: French companies can now participate directly in India’s nuclear ecosystem, whether through conventional reactors or next‑generation small modular reactors (SMRs) and advanced modular reactors (AMRs). Macron welcomed the shift, and both sides agreed to keep their technical agencies closely aligned.
Jaitapur: The World’s Largest Nuclear Dream
If India’s nuclear future has a symbolic center, it is the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project — a 10,380 MW mega‑site on Maharashtra’s coast, envisioned as the world’s largest nuclear power station. France’s EDF inherited the project after Areva’s collapse, submitting a comprehensive techno‑commercial proposal in 2021 for six third‑generation EPR reactors. But the final commercial contract remained frozen — until now. The SHANTI Act removes the liability bottleneck that had stalled negotiations for over a decade.
Current talks between EDF and India’s NPCIL focus on:
- Updated reactor specifications (six 1,730 MW EPRs)
- Localization of equipment to boost Indian industry
- Alternative financing models suited to a multi‑billion‑dollar, multi‑decade project
- Engineering redesigns reflecting new global safety and efficiency standards
Misri described the negotiations as “active and ongoing,” with both sides acknowledging the rapidly evolving nuclear technology landscape.
These concerns have shaped public discourse for years — and remain part of the political reality India and France must navigate.
Training the Next Generation
Beyond reactors and contracts, France is investing in India’s human capital. A dedicated program is already training Indian engineers and technicians in EPR‑specific skills, ensuring India can operate and maintain the world’s most advanced reactors. For both nations, this is a long‑term bet on shared capability.
Why This Matters
India’s nuclear ambitions are expanding at a time when its energy demand is skyrocketing and its climate commitments are tightening. France, with its deep nuclear expertise, sees India as a strategic partner in shaping the next chapter of global clean energy. The SHANTI Act provides the legal scaffolding; Jaitapur offers the flagship project; and Modi–Macron diplomacy supplies the political momentum.
