NTPC is identifying land across 16 states — including Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Haryana — to set up nuclear power plants (NPPs) with capacities of up to 1,600 MW. The government-owned utility is expected to contribute one-third of India’s target of achieving 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047 under the Viksit Bharat vision.

The Maharatna company has created a dedicated subsidiary, NTPC Parmanu Urja Nigam (NPUN), which will develop conventional nuclear plants of 1,200–1,600 MW using Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) technology. “Large plants make economic sense as NTPC is a bulk producer and seller of power. Decisions on Small Modular Reactors will come when the technology becomes economically scalable,” a source said.

NTPC’s first nuclear project — the 2.8 GW Mahi Banswada plant — is under construction. Site selection for upcoming projects is underway in 16 states, though suitable parcels are expected in only four to five states, given the need for an exclusive one-kilometre safety zone around each plant. All land must be approved by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). NPUN’s first batch of personnel is already receiving training at NTPC’s Power Management Institute.

A senior official estimated the cost of setting up nuclear plants at Rs 150–200 billion per GW. At present, joint ventures with private players are not permitted, but the government is preparing amendments to the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act, 2010. These are expected to be placed before Parliament in the upcoming Winter Session and will enable private sector participation.

NTPC is also working on indigenising critical nuclear power technologies. In March 2025, it issued a global tender seeking cooperation to localise Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) technology and develop large-capacity reactors (1,000 MW and above) on a concept-to-commissioning basis. The target capacity outlined in the tender is 15 GW (±10 per cent), with applications closing on 31 May 2025. Vendors from countries sharing a land border with India are eligible only if registered with DPIIT’s Competent Authority.

India currently operates 24 nuclear reactors with a combined capacity of 8.78 GW. An additional eight reactors totalling 6.6 GW — including indigenous 700 MW PHWRs — are under construction.