NPCIL seeks financial autonomy to meet India’s 2047 nuclear targets

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) is seeking increased financial autonomy to support India’s goal of generating 100 gigawatts of nuclear energy by 2047. A parliamentary standing committee recently recommended granting the state-owned enterprise greater board-level independence to streamline decision-making and overcome current regulatory hurdles.

According to the committee, existing policy bottlenecks—such as multi-stage reviews, repetitive design clearances, and varied environmental consent procedures—often lead to project delays and increased construction costs. The committee suggested that empowering the NPCIL Board with greater financial sanctioning power for equity-funded projects is essential for the nation’s capacity expansion plans.

Additional recommendations include the restoration of tax waivers for mega-projects and the classification of nuclear power under the national green taxonomy to align it with renewable energy incentives. The committee also emphasized the need for better state government involvement in land acquisition and infrastructure, improved nuclear liability insurance, and stronger frameworks for local employment and community welfare.