Yes, NTPC Limited, formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation Limited, is a government company. It is a Maharatna Central Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Power, Government of India. Founded in the year 1975, NTPC is primarily engaged in the generation and distribution of electricity to state electricity boards in India. However, the company has also diversified into coal mining, power trading, e-mobility and green hydrogen.

Government of India holds majority stakes in NTPC. It is publicly traded on both BSE and NSE since its IPO in the year 2004.

Here is a quick overview of NTPC

Company History

The company was incorporated as National Thermal Power Corporation Private Limited on 7^th November 1975 by the Government of India. In the year 1976, the company commenced its first thermal power project at Shaktinagar in Uttar Pradesh. The name was changed to National Thermal Power Corporation Limited in the same year. NTPC began commercial operations in 1983, achieving a power generation capacity of 2000 MW by the end of 1985.

NTPC converted to a public limited company in the year 1985. It crossed the 5000 MW installed capacity mark in the year 1987. In the year 1992, NTPC acquired the Feroze Gandhi Unchahar Thermal Power Station in Uttar Pradesh. The company achieved a historic milestone in the year 1997 by generating 100 billion units of electricity in a single year.

NTPC began the construction of its first hydro-electric power project of 8000 MW capacity in Himachal Pradesh in 2000. In October 2005, the company’s name was changed from National Thermal Power Corporation Limited to NTPC Limited.

Current Status

NTPC Limited is the largest power company in India, with an installed capacity of 85 GW. It contributes 24% to India’s total power generation capacity. The company directly owns 27 coal-based plants, 7 gas/liquid fuel-based plants, 17 solar power plants, 1 hydro plant and 1 small hydro plant. Furthermore, it owns 56 more plants through joint ventures and subsidiaries.

Major wholly-owned subsidiaries of NTPC Limited include NTPC Mining Limited, NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited, NTPC Green Energy Limited, NEEPCO, NTPC Renewable Energy Limited and NTPC Electric Supply Co. Limited.

NTPC is present in 70 locations across India, with 8 regional headquarters. It is also present in two locations in Bangladesh and one location in Sri Lanka.

Future Outlook

NTPC is taking steps towards sustainable power generation, with the aim of achieving 60 GW of renewable power generation capacity by 2032. The company has an ambitious vision of scaling its total power generation capacity to 244 GW by 2037.