NHPC’s Bhupender Gupta gets extended additional charge as SJVN CMD
The Ministry of Power has extended the additional charge of Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of SJVN Limited to Bhupender Gupta, CMD of NHPC Limited, for three months with effect from August 1, 2026.
The extension will remain valid for three months or until the appointment of a full-time incumbent or until further orders, whichever is earliest. Gupta has been serving as CMD of NHPC, a Navratna Enterprise under the Government of India, since September 4, 2025. He was first assigned the additional charge of CMD, SJVN on May 1, 2025.
Career
Gupta holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and an MBA in Operations Management. He has more than 34 years of professional experience, including 31 years across Power Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs).
He began his career with ACC Ltd. in 1991, where he worked until 1995 before joining SJVN. During his 12 years at SJVN from 1995 to 2007, he worked in various positions and was involved in the planning, erection, commissioning, and operation & maintenance of electromechanical equipment for the 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Plant, India’s largest operational hydroelectric project.
Between 2002 and 2005, Gupta served on deputation in Bhutan with the 1,020 MW Tala Hydroelectric Power Project. He subsequently joined REC Ltd. in 2007 and remained there until 2013, working on project financing for hydro and thermal power projects.
Gupta also served as Additional Chief Executive Officer in two REC subsidiaries, REC Transmission Projects Co. Ltd. and REC Power Distribution Co. Ltd., where his responsibilities covered execution, project management, contract management, and consultancy for power sector projects across India. During this period, he was associated with the completion of Government of India flagship schemes including Saubhagya, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), and Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP).
In December 2020, Gupta joined the Punatsangchhu Hydroelectric Project Authority in Bhutan on deputation as Director (Technical), leading construction activities and addressing contractual issues. He moved to THDC India Limited (THDCIL) as Director (Technical) in June 2023, where he provided strategic leadership in resolving commissioning challenges and facilitating the successful Commercial Operation Date (COD) of the 1,320 MW Khurja Super Thermal Power Project (STPP). He also guided teams in resolving challenges at the Tehri Pumped Storage Project (PSP), leading to the successful COD of Unit-1 and Unit-2 of 250 MW each.
Gupta took charge as CMD of NHPC in September 2025.
Project milestones
During his tenure as additional CMD of SJVN since May 2025, Gupta provided strategic leadership in addressing commissioning challenges at the Buxar Thermal Power Project. The first 660 MW unit achieved COD in September 2025, while the second unit was targeted for commissioning in March 2026. He also oversaw the commissioning of the entire 1,000 MW Bikaner Solar Power project in December 2025.
Since taking charge as NHPC CMD in September 2025, his tenure has included the commissioning of the 300 MW Bikaner Solar plant and COD of four 250 MW units — Unit 1, 2, 3 and 4 — of the Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (HEP).
Gupta is also Chairman of NHDC Limited and Loktak Downstream Hydroelectric Corporation Limited, both subsidiaries of NHPC.
His stated areas of focus for meeting India’s growing electricity demand through non-fossil fuel-based resources include energy security and self-reliance, integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), electric vehicle (EV) integration into the grid, cybersecurity and digital protection, green hydrogen, bioenergy, and energy storage.
