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Picture Courtesy:  THE HINDU

Context:

The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), has granted an operation license for two indigenously developed 700 MWe (MegaWatt electric) Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), at the Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS), Gujarat.

About the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB)

It is India's premier regulatory authority responsible for nuclear and radiation safety. It monitors all activities involving atomic energy and radiation in the country.

The President of India constituted the AERB in November 1983, by using the powers granted by the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, to establish the Board and assign it specific regulatory and safety functions under that Act.

The primary mission of the AERB is to ensure that the use of ionizing radiation and nuclear energy in India does not pose undue risk to the health of people and the environment.

It also possesses the authority to administer the provisions of the Factories Act, 1948, specifically concerning industrial safety for units operating under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). This authority comes from Section 23 of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962.

The headquarters of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board is situated in Mumbai.

AERB's Structure and Operations

The AERB's Board comprises six members. Two of these are full-time members, including the Chairman.

The Executive Director of the AERB Secretariat also serves as a full-time, ex-officio member. The remaining four members are highly respected experts from various fields relevant to the Board's responsibilities.

The AERB reports and is responsible to the Atomic Energy Commission; established in 1954 and works under the direct charge of the Prime Minister.

An AERB license is a mandatory certification for any entity in India involved in the use of ionizing radiation and nuclear energy. This license ensures that such activities adhere strictly to established safety standards, thereby minimizing risks to public health and the environment.

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Source: 

THE HINDU