NLC India Limited announced the appointment of Dr. Prasanna Kumar Acharya as its new Chairman and Managing Director (CMD). This appointment, approved by the Ministry of Coal, is for a period of five years. Dr. Acharya, previously the Director (Finance), brings extensive experience from the power, mining, and infrastructure sectors. He officially assumed charge on September 17, 2026.
Leadership Change at NLC India
NLC India Limited has officially appointed Dr. Prasanna Kumar Acharya as the new Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the company. This significant leadership change was approved by the President of India, as conveyed by the Ministry of Coal, Government of India. The appointment is effective for a term of five years from the date of his assumption of charge, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Dr. Acharya’s Background and Experience
Dr. Acharya officially assumed the role of CMD on September 17, 2026, marking a new chapter for the Maharatna Public Sector Undertaking. Prior to this appointment, he served as the Director (Finance) of NLC India Limited. His career spans nearly three decades of rich and diverse experience across the power, mining, and infrastructure sectors, with key roles in organizations like GRIDCO, NTPC, and Tata Power.
Academically, Dr. Acharya holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce (Honours) and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB). He also possesses a Master of Commerce, a Master of Business Administration (MBA), and a Doctorate in Philosophy (Ph.D.). He is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of India and an Associate Member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. Furthermore, he has completed a Management Development Programme in Strategic Finance at IIM Lucknow.
Contributions and Future Outlook
Dr. Acharya’s professional journey encompasses domains including Power Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Mining, and Metro Rail infrastructure. He has been instrumental in major infrastructure initiatives, such as the Phase-II Project of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), valued at over ₹63,000 crore. During his tenure at NLC India Limited, he has spearheaded initiatives in digital transformation, governance reforms, ERP modernization, and the adoption of AI-enabled systems.
His strategic leadership has also played a role in securing critical Government approvals and advancing projects related to coal and critical mineral blocks, as well as renewable energy projects. He has been key in steering joint ventures and supporting NLCIL’s growth roadmap, which targets over 20 GW of power generation capacity and over 100 MTPA of mining capacity by 2030.
Transition of Responsibilities
Consequent to his appointment as CMD, Dr. Acharya has relinquished his charge as Director (Finance) & CFO of the company, effective September 17, 2026. Shri Sanoj Kumar Jha, who held the additional charge of CMD, has now handed over the responsibilities to Dr. Acharya on the same date.
Source: BSE
