The National Power Training Institute (NPTI) stands as a beacon of excellence in the realm of power sector training. Under the aegis of the Ministry of Power, Government of India, NPTI has earned global recognition as a pioneer in power training. With its headquarters in Faridabad, NPTI operates through a network of eleven institutes, each contributing to the nation’s quest for energy self-reliance and sustainability.
Inception and Evolution
Established in 1965, NPTI emerged as a response to the acute shortage of skilled manpower in the burgeoning Indian power sector. It marked the nation’s commitment to self-reliance in energy generation and distribution. Over the years, NPTI has grown into a formidable institution, spanning the entire country and offering diverse training programmes.
Geographical Spread
NPTI operates on an all-India basis with manpower strength of 149 including 78 officers through its 11 institutes, covering:
Northern region:NPTI-Corporate Office, Faridabad; NPTI-Badarpur, New Delhi, and NPTI-Hydro Power Training Centre, Nangal
Southern region:NPTI-Power System Training Institute, Bengaluru; NPTI – Hot Line Training Centre, Bengaluru; NPTI-Neyveli; and NPTI-Alappuzha
Eastern & North-Eastern region:NPTI-Durgapur and NPTI-Guwahati
Western Region:NPTI-Nagpur and NPTI-Shivpuri
With eleven institutes strategically located, NPTI ensures accessibility to quality power sector training for professionals nationwide.
Training Milestones and Research & Innovation
Having imparted knowledge to more than 4,50,000 power professionals in various programmes over five decades, NPTI boasts a rich history of achievements and contributions to the power sector’s growth. NPTI’s legacy is rooted in its unwavering commitment to delivering world-class training and extends to pioneering research and development in the power sector. Its research initiatives have catalysed technological advancements and the adoption of best practices across the industry. Its faculty, trainers, and state-of-the-art laboratories have consistently set industry standards.
NPTI’s alumni network spans the globe, with graduates holding influential positions in both public and private sectors. They have played pivotal roles in shaping India’s energy landscape, driving innovations, and advocating for sustainable practices.
Advanced Training Initiatives
NPTI’s vision for the future involves expanding its training portfolio to encompass cutting-edge courses in renewable energy, grid management, and smart grid technologies. These programmes will equip professionals with the expertise required to navigate the evolving energy landscape. Recognising the global demand for skilled power professionals, NPTI is actively forging partnerships with international institutions. These collaborations will facilitate knowledge exchange, technology transfer, and global expansion of NPTI’s training programmes. The institute is committed to modernising its infrastructure, including advanced laboratories, simulation facilities, and research centres. This investment ensures NPTI remains at the forefront of power sector training.
Sustainability Integration
NPTI acknowledges the paramount importance of sustainability in the power sector. It is integrating sustainability principles into its training modules to cultivate environmentally conscious power professionals.
NPTI conducts an array of comprehensive training programmes designed to meet the evolving needs of the power sector. These programmes cater to engineers, supervisors, technicians, and other professionals in various technical and managerial domains of the Renewable Energy & Power Sector. The programmes offered include:
Thermal Power Programmes: Covering both supercritical and subcritical technologies.
Hydro Power Training: Focused on hydroelectric power generation.
Renewable Energy Training: Encompassing solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources.
Transmission and Distribution: Addressing the intricacies of power distribution networks.
Management Programmes: Equipping professionals with managerial skills.
Regulatory Affairs: Providing insights into the regulatory framework of the power sector.
These training programmes, offered across all NPTI institutes, can be customised to suit the specific needs of client organisations. They are conducted year-round and are complemented by workshops and seminars that cover the latest developments in the sector.
NPTI also offers specialised industry-interfaced programmes and postgraduate diploma courses in various areas, including Power Plant Engineering, Renewable Energy, Smart Grid Technologies, and Power System Operation. These programmes prepare graduates for leadership roles in the dynamic power sector.
NPTI is at the forefront of several ongoing initiatives that contribute to the power sector’s growth and resilience:
Induction Training Programmes: NPTI imparts induction training to fresh graduate engineers and executives from various power sector organisations, ensuring a strong foundation for their careers.
On-job Training: On-job training supplements formal education, providing real-world experience and essential skills in specific areas of power sector operations.
Online Training Courses: NPTI conducts online training programmes, adapting to the digital age and providing accessible learning opportunities.
NPTI is recognised as Cadre Training Institute for Central Power Engineering Services. NPTI is functioning as the Apex Cadre Training Institute for the engineers/officers of Central Power Engineering Services.
Energy Efficiency: NPTI collaborates with financial institutions to provide training on energy efficiency financing, promoting sustainable practices.
Protection of Consumer Interest: The institute organises training programs for ombudsmen and officials from consumer grievance redressal forums, fostering consumer protection in the power sector.
Distribution Lineman Training: NPTI has pioneered training programs like ‘Urja Sarathi’ and ‘Uttam Urja Sarathi’ to equip distribution linemen with the knowledge and skills needed for safe and efficient operations.
Power System Operation Certification: NPTI has been conducting Certification of Power System Operators since 2011. Training Courses at NPTI, Corporate Office, Faridabad, Power System Training Institute (PSTI), Bengaluru and NPTI (NER), Guwahati are equipped with necessary inputs to take up the various System Operation Certification Examinations.
Simulator Training: Simulators at various locations are housed in an existing Simulator Training Centre with classrooms and other infrastructure facilities for a full-fledged training activity. The simulator design includes equipment, instrumentation and controls that enable the operator to function in all modules with optimal specified operation conditions including normal, abnormal or emergency operating conditions.
Skill Development: NPTI plays a vital role in the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), providing training programs aligned with industry needs.
Foundation Programme: NPTI offers a unique three-week foundation programme that imparts interdisciplinary knowledge of power generation, transmission, distribution, renewable energy, and energy transition.
Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS): NPTI collaborates with RDSS to enhance operational efficiency and sustainability in the distribution sector through training programmes.
Mission SAMARTH: NPTI has conducted more than 32 training programmes for farmers, pellet manufacturers and thermal power plant officials and have trained more than 3,500 personnel under National Mission on use of Biomass in Thermal Power Plants (SAMARTH).
Cyber Security: As per Article-8 of the CEA (Cyber Security in Power Sector) Guidelines, 2021, National Power Training Institute in consultation with CEA has identified and designed domain specific courses on Cyber Security for different target groups in Power Industry. NPTI is organising classroom training programmes along with Hands-On Training programmes for personnel having authorised cyber or authorised physical access (unescorted or escorted) to their critical systems.
As cyberattacks are growing in volume and complexity, preparing young professionals to protect systems, networks and programs from digital attacks has become all the more important. National Power Training Institute along with Whizhack is also running India’s First Experiential Post Graduate Diploma in Cyber Security (PGDCS) Program, which is of six-months; duration. A course worth 480 hours of content with access to virtual labs with cyber attack and defence simulated projects has been prepared. The course is well designed and experienced faculty will address the participants in live classes scheduled during the weekends.
Mid-career Training Programme for IAS Officers: The Phase III programme, introduced by the Government of India is the first in the series of the Mid-career Training Programme for IAS Officers. It is the first major training programme which officers attend after induction level training. It marks a key inflection point when an IAS officer makes a transition from field administration to higher level responsibilities as the Head of Department at the State level and Deputy Secretary / Director in the Government of India with the mandate to ensure qualitative improvement in delivery of services in the larger context.
NPTI conducted the ‘ENERGY’ module of one week duration, out of the total four weeks’ training programme. A wide range of topics covering the generation, transmission and distribution sectors were presented to the participants. New and emerging technologies in the power sector were also introduced.
Upcoming Initiatives at NPTI
Learning Management System (LMS)
As part of the Digital India programme initiated by the Government of India, NPTI is getting its own Learning Management System developed. LMS provides access to information anytime, anywhere, so that trainees can get access to study material from anywhere and at any time as centralised information consolidated in one location, online and blended learning solutions which facilitate and improve upon traditional educational methods.
LMS can also save organisation’s time and money by allowing easy administration of information in a user-friendly, web-based environment and also automate administration, tracking and reporting of training events. Initially NPTI is planning to float courses on Basic Course on Cyber Security, Specialised Course on Cyber Security, SCADA & Substation Automation, and Regulatory Issues in Power Sector on the LMS which later on will have more courses on newer technologies in the Power Sector.
National SCADA Resource Centre (NSRC)
The Ministry of Power (MoP) launched the Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) in July 2021. Apart from its twin objectives related to distribution infrastructure and institutional capacity building for DISCOMS, the scheme also envisages the establishment of SCADA/DMS in 100 towns and basic SCADA in 3,875 towns. Accordingly, a state-of-the-art National SCADA Resource Centre (NSRC) is being established at NPTI in association with Power Finance Corporation Limited (PFC) to provide hands-on training on vendor-neutral platforms on upcoming distribution SCADA in various DISCOMS across India. NSRC will do the handholding of DISCOMS for the adoption of new technologies and it will also serve as a platform for knowledge exchange and peer-to-peer learning.
