NTPC Limited is an Indian central Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), a company incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956, and is the country's largest power-producing conglomerate. It is under the ownership of the Ministry of Power, Government of India.
The company was originally incorporated as National Thermal Power Corporation Private Limited on November 7, 1975, by the Government of India. Its founding was a strategic move driven by the urgent need to meet India's escalating energy demands and accelerate the development of its power sector, initially focusing on thermal power. The company began commercial operations in 1983 and was converted to a Public Limited Company on September 30, 1985. It was conferred with the 'Navratna' status in 1997 and the prestigious 'Maharatna' status in May 2010. The name was formally changed to NTPC Limited on October 28, 2005.
NTPC's core mechanism involves the generation and bulk sale of electricity to State Electricity Boards and power distribution companies. While it began with coal-based thermal power, it has diversified across the entire energy value chain, including hydro, solar, wind, and nuclear sources. As of May 2, 2026, the NTPC Group's total installed capacity stands at 89,805 MW, contributing approximately 24% of India's total power generation. The company also undertakes consultancy, power trading, coal mining, and is venturing into e-mobility and green hydrogen.
NTPC is closely connected to the Ministry of Power and is subject to regulatory compliance under the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, as it is listed on the BSE and NSE. The Government of India's shareholding has been reduced over time through divestment, from 89.5% after its IPO in October 2004 to 51.10% currently, though it remains the majority owner. A significant recent change is its accelerated focus on renewable and nuclear energy, with a target of 60 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2032. This diversification marks a shift from its historical reliance on fossil fuels.