Lok Sabha Question No. 1423 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-13
Subject: Underutilization of Funds by NPTI
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Shri Azad Kirti Jha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1423 ANSWERED ON 13.02.2025

## UNDERUTILIZATION OF FUNDS BY NPTI

1423.  SHRI AZAD KIRTI JHA:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the reasons for sub-optimal utilization of budgetary allocations by the National Power Training Institute (NPTI) during the years 2022-23 and 2023-24;
- (b) the details of the specific steps taken/being taken by the Government to address the  challenges  responsible  for  the  underutilization  of  allocated  funds  and  to  enhance the absorptive capacity of the said Institute;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  assessed  the  factors  that  led  to  National  Power Training  Institute  (NPTI)  losing  its  self-sufficient  status  in  2018  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (d) the  details  of  the  measures  being  implemented  to  help  the  said  Institute  to restore its financial self-sufficiency and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of  any long-term strategy to strengthen  the said Institution's operational and financial performance to ensure its effective contribution to the power sector?

## A N S W E R

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER (SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

(a) & (b) : The  Govt.  of  India  provide  funds  to  National  Power  Training  Institute (NPTI) for meeting  the  requirement  of its pension  liabilities and  for creation/ upgradation of Infrastructure in its institutes spread across the country. In FY 2022-23 as against budgetary allocation of Rs.50 Cr, NPTI utilized Rs. 14.35 Cr out of which Rs. 12  Cr  was  utilized  for  meeting  pension  liabilities  and  Rs.  2.35  Cr  for  Infrastructure upgradation. Similarly in FY 2023-24 as against budgetary allocation of Rs. 35 Cr, NPTI utilized  Rs.  22.93  Cr  out  of  which  an  amount  of  Rs.  10  Cr  was  utilized  for  meeting pension  liabilities  and  Rs.  12.93  Cr  for  Infrastructure  upgradation.  During  the  above mentioned period, NPTI proposed various works related to the upgradation of critical infrastructure of its institutes like construction and furnishing of hostel building etc. Due to considerable time taken by the institute in preparation and subsequent approval of  Detailed  Project  Report  (DPRs),  the  proposed  works  under  them  could  not  be executed and funds allocated to NPTI remained unutilized.

...........2.

To enhance the absorptive capacity of the institution, the institute was advised by MoP to submit proposals well in advance along with utilization certificates regularly so that funds could be released in time. With the help of these measures the utilization of funds under infrastructure head has improved in FY 2023-24 compared to FY 202223.

(c) & (d): NPTI is an autonomous institute registered under the Haryana Registration  and Regulation  of Societies Act of 2012. It has consistently maintained self-sufficiency since 2004-05 and is bearing all recurring and non-plan expenditures, including  the  salaries  of  its  employees,  solely  through  its  own  revenue  earnings.  As mentioned  above,  the  financial  support  of  Ministry  is  limited  to  provide  Grants  for infrastructure development and towards pension liabilities.

(e):          Following  steps  are  taken  to  strengthen  NPTI's  operational  &  financial performance:

- i. Ministry  of  Power,  Govt.  of  India  designated  NPTI  as  a  National  Apex  body  for fulfilling  the  training  and  Human  Resource  Development  requirements  of  the power sector in the country.
- ii. NPTI  is  conducting  various  Long-Term,  Medium-Term,  Short-Term,  Specialized Training Programs for Engineers & Supervisors in Thermal Power Plant Engineering  ,  Hydro  Power,  Transmission/Sub-Transmission  /Distribution,  Smart Grid Technologies, Power System Operations, Regulations for Transmission and Distribution  utilities/  Generating  plant  both  conventional  and  Renewable  Energy Power  plants,  Large  RE  Grid  Integration  technologies,  Hybrid  Energy  such  as Solar, Wind, Biomass, Co-generation etc. The institute has progressively increased the number of such training programmes over the years.
- iii. NPTI is also conducting Capacity Building Programs like  Mandatory  Foundation Program,  Awareness  Program  under  National  Mission  on  use  of  Biomass  in Thermal  Power  Plants,  Training  and  Certification  Programs  on  Cyber  Security, Training  Program  under  Revamped  Distribution  Sector  Scheme  (RDSS),  System Operator  Certification  Examination,  System  Operator  Training  Program  Training Programs under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana etc.
- iv. Foundation  and  Mid-Career  training  programmes  have  been  started  for  career advancement of the Central Power Engineering Service officers of CEA. Induction Training for various utilities such as DVC, NHPC, POSOCO, MahaGenco, MPGenco etc. are being conducted.
- v. Various long term programs are currently running like MBA, PGDC and PDC in various  streams  such  as  MBA  in  Power  Management,  Post  Graduate  Diploma Course  (PGDC)  in  Power  Plant  Engineering,  Renewable  Energy  and  Grid Interface  Technologies  Power  Distribution  &  Emerging  Technologies,  Hydro Power  Plant Engineering &  Post  Diploma  Course (PDC) in Power  Plant Engineering.

..........3.

- vi. An AR/VR lab to train personnels in understanding critical operation of thermal power plants has been proposed for development at Durgapur centre with the financial support of DVC.
- vii. An  E-Learning  Management  System  (LMS)  was  developed  to  facilitate  online certification courses.
- viii. NPTI  conducts  Training  of  Trainers  (ToT)  programs  for  its  regular  employees and faculties for enhancing their skills and also allows employee to be part of the Specialized Training Programs for Utilities, International workshop/Seminar and conferences conducted by other centres of NPTI and by other organizations.
- ix. NPTI is also engaged in providing consultancy services to various utilities.
- x. To  facilitate  more  number  of  trainings,  infrastructure  have  been  strengthened, under  which    02  new  Institutes  at  Alappuzha  in  Kerala  and  Shivpuri  in  Madhya Pradesh have been established and started functioning from Year 2020 onwards. Further, scheme for Development of the Critical infrastructure (Hostel upgradation & other Civil works) of 09 Institutes of NPTI, and establishment of three new Hostel at NPTI institutes were approved.
- xi. To  improve  quality  of  training,  06  Nos.  of  new  Multifunctional  Simulator  have been commissioned successfully at NPTI-PSTI, Bengaluru, NPTI (ER), Durgapur, NPTI,  CO,  Faridabad,  NPTI-  Alappuzha,  Kerala,  NPTI  (WR),  Nagpur  and  NPTI, Shivpuri.

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