The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is an Indian government department, established on August 3, 1954, through a Presidential Order, and is under the direct charge of the Prime Minister. Its creation followed the passage of the Atomic Energy Bill in 1948 and the setting up of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), providing an organization with full authority to plan and implement the expansion of the atomic energy programme. The DAE's core mandate is to empower India through the development of nuclear power technology, applications of radiation technologies in fields like agriculture and medicine, and contribution to national security.
The DAE's apex body is the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), whose Chairman is the ex-officio Secretary to the Government of India in the DAE. Its work involves enhancing the share of nuclear power by deploying indigenous technologies, developing fast breeder reactors, and building research reactors for radioisotope production. Key institutions connected to the DAE include the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB).
Historically, the DAE's functions were governed by the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010. However, a major recent change occurred with the passage of the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, 2025, which replaced both the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010. This new Act redrew the rules for the nuclear power sector, notably by enabling the participation of private players in operations and fuel management. The DAE is also currently pursuing the development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) under a dedicated Nuclear Energy Mission.