NHPC Limited is a Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the administrative control of the Ministry of Power, Government of India. It is a premier organization in India's power generation sector, primarily focusing on hydroelectric power development. The company was originally incorporated on November 7, 1975, as a private limited company named National Hydro Electric Power Corporation Private Limited, with the objective to plan, promote, and organize the integrated and efficient development of hydroelectric power in the country. This creation was part of a government initiative to tap into India's abundant hydroelectric resources and ensure energy security.
NHPC works by designing, constructing, and operating hydroelectric power projects across various states, and it sells bulk power to state distribution companies (Discoms) and other power utilities through long-term power purchase agreements. Its core function is to provide both base-load and critical peaking power to the grid. The company transitioned into a public limited company in April 1986 and its name was officially changed to NHPC Limited on March 28, 2008.
What connects to NHPC is its role in India's broader renewable energy landscape; while its primary focus remains hydropower, it has actively diversified its portfolio to include other sources like solar and wind energy. For instance, it has commissioned solar power plants in Rajasthan and is involved in joint ventures like Chenab Valley Power Projects Limited. A recent change includes the successful restoration of its 510 MW Teesta-V Hydropower Station in Sikkim to full commercial operation on July 16, 2026, after the plant was severely impacted by flooding in October 2023.