At a glance
NHPC Limited (formerly the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation) is the Central government's hydropower company. It builds and runs hydro stations across the Himalayan states and the North-East, and has added solar and wind plants. It is also the developer of the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project in Arunachal Pradesh, India's largest planned hydro project.
Key facts
- Incorporated: 7 November 1975 (as National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Pvt Ltd)
- Ministry: Ministry of Power
- Headquarters: Faridabad, Haryana
- Status: Navratna (August 2024); listed on NSE and BSE
- Chairman and Managing Director: Bhupender Gupta (as of October 2026)
- Installed capacity: about 9,333 MW as of 1 October 2026, including 1,681.70 MW through joint ventures
- Mix: about 8,771 MW hydro from 24 stations, plus about 512 MW solar and 50 MW wind
- Main joint venture: NHDC (with Madhya Pradesh), which runs Indira Sagar and Omkareshwar on the Narmada
- Long-term target: 50,000 MW by 2047
- Largest projects under construction: Subansiri Lower (2,000 MW, Arunachal/Assam border) and Dibang Multipurpose (2,880 MW, Arunachal)
How it works
NHPC develops a project from survey to commissioning, then sells the power to state distribution companies under long-term agreements, with tariffs set by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission. Hydropower is valued for grid balancing: it can ramp up quickly when solar output falls in the evening.
Well-known NHPC stations and projects:
| Project | State/UT | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Baira Siul | Himachal Pradesh | NHPC's first power station |
| Salal | Jammu and Kashmir | On the Chenab |
| Uri I and II | Jammu and Kashmir | On the Jhelum |
| Kishanganga | Jammu and Kashmir | 330 MW; subject of a dispute with Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty |
| Chamera I–III | Himachal Pradesh | On the Ravi |
| Teesta V | Sikkim | On the Teesta |
| Loktak | Manipur | Uses Loktak Lake |
| Parbati II | Himachal Pradesh | 800 MW, commissioned FY 2025-26 |
| Subansiri Lower | Arunachal/Assam | 2,000 MW; 4 of 8 units running by October 2026 |
| Dibang | Arunachal Pradesh | 2,880 MW; will be India's largest hydro station when complete |
Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP). A storage dam of about 11,000 MW proposed on the Siang river in Arunachal Pradesh. The Siang is called the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet and becomes the Brahmaputra in Assam. The Centre sees the project partly as a buffer against China's very large Medog (Motuo) hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo, on which construction began in July 2025. Local Adi communities in Siang district have protested against surveys and the risk of displacement since 2024.
Exam traps
- NHPC's HQ is Faridabad (Haryana), not New Delhi; NTPC's HQ is New Delhi.
- NHPC became a Navratna in 2024; it is not a Maharatna.
- SJVN (Shimla) and THDC (Rishikesh) are separate hydro PSUs; NEEPCO (Shillong) is now an NTPC subsidiary.
- Siang = Yarlung Tsangpo (Tibet) = Brahmaputra (Assam) = Jamuna (Bangladesh).
- Dibang (2,880 MW) and Subansiri Lower (2,000 MW) are under construction; Siang Upper is still at the planning stage.
Quick check
- Q: Where is NHPC headquartered? A: Faridabad, Haryana.
- Q: Under which ministry does NHPC work? A: Ministry of Power.
- Q: Which NHPC project is planned on the Siang river? A: The Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (about 11,000 MW).
Sources
- https://www.nhpcindia.com/welcome/page/1.html
- https://www.nhpcindia.com/
- https://egov.eletsonline.com/2024/09/nhpc-seci-railtel-and-sjvn-awarded-navratna-status-gaining-greater-autonomy-for-growth-and-expansion/
- https://www.sarkaritel.com/?p=417445
- https://www.etvbharat.com/en/!bharat/arunachal-pradesh-communities-up-ante-against-the-siang-mega-hydro-power-project-enn24121405501
In the news
Every time this topic has appeared in our current affairs, newest first:
- 25 October 2026Arunachal anti-dam protest turns violent at Pasighat