The Union Cabinet on Tuesday gave its nod for the much awaited legislation to create an independent and autonomous regulator for the nuclear energy sector in the place of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board.
Senior government officials, however, declined to give any further detail on the ground that since Parliament was in session, MPs might consider it a breach of privilege.
Experts have been calling for the setting up of the regulator, saying the present arrangement would not be adequate in the context of the country's plan for a major expansion of the nuclear energy sector.
The demand became more strident following the nuclear accident at Fukushima in Japan.
Responding, Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, announced the government's intention to come out with an independent nuclear safety regulatory authority that would be of international standards.
The AERB reports to the Atomic Energy Commission, whose mandate is to promote nuclear energy.
