Bengaluru, 27 August 2026: Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has prepared a Cabinet note proposing the creation of a consulting subsidiary of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) (NPCIL consulting subsidiary) to support companies seeking to enter India’s newly opened nuclear power sector.
Proposed subsidiary, which would be fully owned by NPCIL, is expected to provide design and engineering, operations and maintenance, and regulatory support to private companies planning to build and operate nuclear power plants.
The move comes as private-sector interest in nuclear power grows following the enactment of the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, 2025. Legislation has opened the door for private entities to participate in nuclear power generation, subject to the applicable licensing and regulatory framework.
According to officials familiar with the proposal, several companies have approached NPCIL seeking technical guidance, particularly on establishing pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR) projects. NPCIL is currently the country’s principal operator of PHWR-based nuclear power plants and has extensive experience in reactor construction, operation and maintenance.
Industry interest is not limited to indigenous PHWR technology. Companies exploring light water reactors based on overseas technologies have also sought technical inputs from NPCIL, including on project development and operational considerations. Proposed consulting arm could therefore become an important technical bridge between India’s established nuclear operating experience and new private-sector entrants.
Proposed NPCIL Consulting Subsidiary
Under the draft proposal, the subsidiary would initially be managed by three NPCIL nominee directors, including a chief executive officer and chief financial officer responsible for its day-to-day operations.
NPCIL may provide the initial equity required to establish the subsidiary. The capital could subsequently be increased depending on the company’s infrastructure, operational and other asset requirements.
Proposal follows growing calls from prospective nuclear developers for an institution capable of providing techno-commercial and technical support in areas such as reactor design, engineering, technology selection, site evaluation, operations and maintenance strategies and regulatory navigation.
For private companies entering a highly regulated and technically complex sector, access to experienced nuclear engineering and operating expertise could help reduce project-development uncertainties.
Supporting India’s 100 GW Nuclear Target
India has set a target of achieving 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047. NPCIL itself is targeting around 54 GW as part of the country’s broader nuclear expansion programme.
Proposed consulting subsidiary could play a significant role in supporting this expansion by making NPCIL’s accumulated technical and operational expertise available to other project developers, while allowing the corporation to continue pursuing its own nuclear generation programme.
DAE has also recently issued draft rules and regulations under the SHANTI framework, providing the regulatory architecture for private entities to seek licences covering activities including building, owning, operating and decommissioning nuclear power plants.
If approved, the proposed NPCIL consulting company could become an important component of India’s emerging private nuclear ecosystem, providing new entrants with access to specialised expertise as the country moves toward its long-term nuclear capacity ambitions.
Source: The Economic Times, “Pvt N-power Cos may Get to Seek Govt’s Guidance — Cabinet note ready for new NPCIL unit.” (27.08.2026)
