Relevance: GS III (Science & Technology and Environment)

1. What is the News?

• Recently, the United States government decided to remove a very famous safety rule called ALARA from its nuclear power guidelines.
• For decades, ALARA has been the ultimate “gold standard” for protecting people and workers from radiation all over the world.

2. Two Concepts to Know

To understand why this news is so controversial, you just need to know these two basic ideas:

• The “No Safe Level” Theory (LNT Model): This scientific theory says that no amount of radiation is completely safe. Even the tiniest drop of radiation carries a small risk of causing diseases like cancer.
• The “Safety First” Rule (ALARA): ALARA stands for ‘As Low As Reasonably Achievable’. Based on the above theory, this rule says nuclear power plants must try to keep radiation exposure as close to zero as humanly possible, even if the exposure is already safely below the legal limit.

3. Why did the US drop this rule?

• Faster Progress: The US government feels that these old, super-strict safety rules are creating unnecessary fear and paperwork. They believe dropping this rule will help them build new, advanced nuclear power plants much faster to meet energy demands.
• A Different Scientific View: Some experts now believe that the human body can naturally repair very tiny amounts of background radiation. They feel that forcing companies to spend millions of dollars to achieve “zero” radiation is a waste of time and money.

4. Why are People Worried?

• Going Against the World: Major global health bodies, like the World Health Organization (WHO), still strongly believe in the ALARA safety rule. The US decision goes completely against global advice.
• Loss of Public Trust: Critics are heavily worried that lowering safety standards might put factory workers at risk and make the common man fear nuclear energy even more.

5. What is India’s Stand?

• India is not changing its rules.
• Our nuclear watchdog, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), strictly follows the ALARA rule in all Indian nuclear plants to ensure the absolute safety of our workers and citizens.

UPSC Value Box

Important Term	Meaning
ALARA	As Low As Reasonably Achievable: The global rule to keep radiation exposure as close to zero as practically possible.
LNT Model	Linear No-Threshold: The scientific belief that any radiation exposure, no matter how incredibly small, carries some health risk.
AERB	Atomic Energy Regulatory Board: India’s main agency that ensures all our domestic nuclear plants and hospitals run safely.

Q. With reference to radiation safety frameworks and global nuclear regulations, consider the following statements:

1. The Linear No-Threshold (LNT) model assumes that human bodies can fully repair very low doses of radiation, meaning low doses carry zero cancer risk.
2. The ALARA principle mandates that radiation exposure must be kept as far below the legal dose limits as practically possible.
3. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) oversees radiation safety and enforces the ALARA principle in India’s domestic nuclear facilities.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (b)