As NPCIL marks its 40th Foundation Day (September 17), its role is entering a new phase. The focus is shifting from building and operating India’s nuclear fleet to delivering a much larger project pipeline.
40 Years of NPCIL
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) was incorporated in 17 September 1987. Its mandate was clear. It was created to operate atomic power plants and implement nuclear power projects for electricity generation. Nearly four decades later, NPCIL operates 24 commercial nuclear power reactors.
Total installed capacity is 8,780 MW. This excludes Rajasthan Atomic Power Station Unit-1, a 100 MW reactor owned by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and managed by NPCIL. The unit is under long shutdown. NPCIL’s role now covers the full project cycle. It is involved in the design, construction, commissioning, operation and upgradation of nuclear power reactors. This gives NPCIL a central role in India’s nuclear power programme. But the nature of that role is changing.
Nuclear Fleet Is Changing
India’s nuclear fleet is no longer based on one reactor size. Indigenous 700 MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) has become an important part of the new generation of projects. Kakrapar Atomic Power Project Units 3 and 4 are both 700 MW PHWRs. Rajasthan Atomic Power Project Unit 7 is another 700 MW PHWR. These projects demonstrate India’s move towards larger indigenous reactor units.
At the same time, NPCIL continues to build large Light Water Reactors at Kudankulam. Kudankulam Units 1 and 2 are 1,000 MW VVER reactors. Four more 1,000 MW units are being developed as Units 3 to 6. Result is a more diverse fleet. It combines India’s indigenous PHWR technology with large reactors based on international cooperation.
From Operating Plants to a Large Construction Pipeline
Next phase is already visible at construction sites. NPCIL is constructing RAPP-8, GHAVP Units 1 and 2, and Kudankulam Units 3 to 6. Construction of Kaiga Units 5 and 6 has also started. Together, these projects represent a significant increase in the scale of NPCIL’s project activity.
India Government reported in July 2026 that 20 nuclear reactors were under implementation. Of these, 10 were under construction and 10 were in pre-project activities. The 10 under-construction reactors had a combined capacity of 8,000 MW. They included RAPP-8, Kudankulam Units 3–6, PFBR, Kaiga Units 5–6 and GHAVP Units 1–2.
This marks an important change. For many years, India’s nuclear programme was mainly associated with a relatively small number of operating projects. Next phase involves several projects moving forward at the same time.
Kaiga Marks an Important Shift
For Karnataka, Kaiga has a special significance. Kaiga Units 5 and 6 are two 700 MW indigenous PHWRs. Construction officially began with the First Pour of Concrete on 1 March 2026 for the Unit-5 nuclear building. Project is part of India’s first fleet of ten 700 MW PHWRs. Preparatory work, procurement and manufacturing activities are being carried out as part of this fleet programme.
Major engineering packages have also been awarded. Kaiga therefore represents more than the addition of two reactors. It is part of a move towards standardised and fleet-mode construction of indigenous 700 MW reactors. For Karnataka, it also means a new phase of activity in the nuclear industrial ecosystem around Kaiga and the wider region.
5. Kudankulam Adds Another Dimension
Kudankulam represents another important part of NPCIL’s expansion. Units 3 and 4 are under construction. Units 5 and 6 are also under construction. Each unit has a capacity of 1,000 MW. Four units together represent 4,000 MW of additional capacity.
Kudankulam therefore adds another technology stream to NPCIL’s future fleet. The 700 MW PHWR programme represents India’s indigenous reactor platform. Kudankulam represents large Light Water Reactors developed through international cooperation. Both are moving forward at the same time. This makes the coming decade different from the earlier phases of India’s nuclear programme.
Fleet-Mode Construction Becomes Important
One of the biggest changes is the move towards fleet-mode construction. Government has given administrative approval and financial sanction for 10 indigenous 700 MW PHWRs. Projects are planned at:
- Kaiga, Karnataka – Units 5 and 6
- Gorakhpur, Haryana – Units 3 and 4
- Chutka, Madhya Pradesh – Units 1 and 2
- Ma hi Banswara, Rajasthan – Units 1 to 4
Together, they represent 7,000 MW of planned capacity. Idea is different from developing every reactor as an isolated project. Common designs can support bulk procurement. Manufacturing can be planned across multiple projects. Lessons from one project can also be applied to the next.
NPCIL says preparatory activities for these fleet-mode reactors are already progressing. These include land, environmental clearances, equipment procurement, site infrastructure, regulatory studies and tendering activities. Fleet approach could therefore become an important part of India’s nuclear expansion model.
Scale-Up Challenge
Expansion is not only about reactor numbers. It is also about capability. NPCIL and its wider ecosystem will need to scale up:
- Project management
- Nuclear-grade manufacturing
- Construction capacity
- Skilled manpower
- Quality assurance
- Supply chains
- Contractor capacity
- Commissioning expertise
- Regulatory coordination
Challenge will extend beyond NPCIL. Equipment manufacturers, EPC companies, engineering firms, MSMEs, construction contractors and specialist service providers will all have a role. Workforce requirement will also grow.
India will need engineers, operators, technicians, project managers, safety professionals, quality specialists and skilled tradespeople. This connects directly with the larger 100 GWe nuclear mission. Building reactors at scale requires more than reactor technology. It requires an industrial ecosystem capable of delivering projects repeatedly and safely.
What Could NPCIL Look Like by 2031–32?
NPCIL has set out an ambitious capacity trajectory. With progressive completion of its projects and the sanctioned fleet-mode programme, the company says its total installed capacity is envisaged to reach 21,980 MW by 2031–32.
That would represent a major increase from the current 8,780 MW. It would also change the scale of NPCIL’s operations. More reactors would mean more construction activity. It would mean a larger operating fleet. It would also create greater demand for suppliers, skilled professionals and specialised nuclear services.
From Foundation to Expansion
NPCIL’s 40-year journey has largely been about building the foundation of India’s nuclear power programme. Next phase is different. Country is preparing for a larger nuclear programme. Government has set a long-term roadmap towards 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047.
NPCIL will be an important part of that journey. Its challenge will not simply be to build more reactors. It will be to build them with the required speed, quality, safety and consistency. That will require a stronger supply chain. It will require a larger skilled workforce.
It will require greater manufacturing capacity. And it will require close coordination across the nuclear ecosystem. After 40 years of building India’s nuclear power base, NPCIL is entering a new chapter. First chapter was about building the fleet. Next chapter is about scaling it.
