New Delhi: Bhupender Gupta has taken charge as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of NHPC Limited, India’s largest hydropower company and a Navratna central public sector enterprise, the company said.Gupta assumed charge on September 4 at NHPC’s corporate office in Faridabad. Prior to this, he was serving as Director (Technical) at THDC India Ltd and also holds the additional charge of CMD, SJVN Ltd.A graduate in electrical engineering with an MBA in operations management, Gupta began his professional career with ACC Ltd in 1991 before joining SJVN in 1995, where he worked for 12 years. At SJVN, he was responsible for the planning, erection, commissioning, and operations of the 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Plant, the country’s largest operational hydroelectric project. He also served on deputation in Bhutan with the 1,020 MW Tala Hydroelectric Power Project between 2002 and 2005.In 2007, Gupta moved to REC Ltd, where he was involved in project financing of hydro and thermal projects for nearly six years. He later headed two REC subsidiaries – REC Transmission Projects Co. Ltd and REC Power Distribution Co. Ltd – as Additional CEO, overseeing execution, project management, and contract management. During this period, he contributed to key government schemes including Saubhagya, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana, and PMDP.Gupta also worked as Director (Technical) at the Punatsangchhu Hydroelectric Project Authority in Bhutan in 2020, where he resolved contractual issues and spearheaded ongoing construction activities. In June 2023, he joined THDCIL as Director (Technical), where he guided efforts in commissioning Unit-1 of the 660 MW Khurja STPP and Units 1 & 2 (250 MW each) of the Tehri PSP.With a career spanning over 34 years, including 31 years in power CPSUs, Gupta has experience across hydro, thermal, renewable, transmission, and distribution sectors. His stated vision focuses on strengthening India’s energy security by scaling up non-fossil fuel resources and integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, EV-grid integration, cybersecurity, green hydrogen, bioenergy, and energy storage.
