State-owned SJVN Ltd has announced the appointment of Bhupendra Gupta, currently Director (Technical) at THDC India Ltd (THDCIL), as its Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) on an additional charge basis.
The appointment is effective from May 1, 2025, and will continue for a period of three months, or until a regular CMD is appointed, or until further orders – whichever is earlier, the company said in a regulatory filing.
32 Years of Experience
An engineering graduate in Electricals with an MBA in Operations Management, Mr Gupta brings with him over 32 years of experience, predominantly in the power sector. He previously served SJVN Ltd for 12 years in various roles before moving to REC Ltd in 2007.
During his tenure at REC, he held key leadership roles including Additional CEO of REC Transmission Projects Co. Ltd and REC Power Distribution Co. Ltd, where he led operations and was instrumental in execution, project management, contract handling, and consultancy of power sector projects.
His extensive experience spans across hydropower as well as transmission and distribution projects, involving planning, design, execution, operations & maintenance, and contract management.
Leadership Transitions at SJVN: A Timeline
- Nand Lal Sharma, the long-serving CMD of SJVN, retired on February 29, 2024.
- Geeta Kapoor, Director (Personnel), was given additional charge as CMD from March 1, 2024, becoming the first woman CMD of SJVN.
- Upon Kapoor’s retirement, the government handed over the interim charge to Raj Kumar Chaudhary, CMD of NHPC, from November 1, 2024.
- Now, with Chaudhary set to retire in June 2025, the Centre has appointed Bhupender Gupta as the new interim CMD with effect from May 1, 2025.
PESB Selection Delayed
The leadership vacuum at SJVN continues despite a formal selection process. On April 8, 2024, the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) recommended Sushil Sharma, Director (Projects) at SJVN, for the CMD position. However, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has not ratified the appointment – reportedly due to objections raised by the Lokpal of India.
About SJVN
SJVN Limited (formerly Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited) is a Mini Ratna, Category-I public sector undertaking under the administrative control of the Ministry of Power, Government of India. It is a prominent player in India’s power sector, with a primary focus on hydroelectric power generation, and expanding aggressively into renewable energy, thermal, and transmission.
