Organization and Functions

(i) Name and address of the Organization

Central Power Research Institute commonly known as CPRI, is presently an autonomous Society under the Ministry of Power. Set up in 1960 by the Government of India, it was reorganized into an autonomous Society in 1978.
The Institute is managed by a Governing Body comprising members representing the Government, the electrical utilities, the industry, academic institutions etc. The Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Power is the President of the Governing Council. The Chief Executive of this Institute is the Director General who is also Member Secretary of the Governing Counci.

Organization Chart

Major Objectives Of The Institute

• Function as a National Power Research Organization for undertaking and/or sponsoring research and development projects in the fields of generation, transmission, distribution and operation of electricity supply systems
• Provide necessary centralized research and testing facilities for evaluation of electrical materials and performance of power equipments.
• Serve as a National Testing and Certification Authority for the purpose of certification of rating and performance to ensure availability of equipment of adequate quality for use under conditions prevalent in Indian Power Systems.
• Act as an apex body for initiating and co-ordinating the R&D in the field of electric power.
• Evolve criteria for standards of various equipments for the operation under Indian conditions and effectively participate in formulation of national standard specifications.
• Identify problems in the areas of basic and oriented basic research and arrange such studies in national academic Institutions.
• Co-ordinate R&D activities in the various State Electricity Boards and maintain liaison with other Institutions engaged in research connected with the power systems and/or power equipments.
• Collect information and maintain documentation in the field of power engineering and prepare, print and publish any paper, periodical or report in the furtherance of the objects of the society.
• Establish, maintain and manage laboratories, workshops and other facilities for furthering scientific and technological research and conduct experiments for exploiting the invention or discoveries to the cause of power development in the country.
• Enter into agreement with any enterprise or institutions or person or persons and provide funds to them to carry out research and development programme of the society.

CPRI Profile

The Central Power Research Institute commonly known as CPRI is presently an autonomous Society under the Ministry of Power.Set up in 1960 by the Government of India, it was re-organized into an autonomous society in 1978. The Institute is managed by a Governing Body comprising members representing the Government, the electrical utilities, the industry, academic institutions etc. The Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Power is the President of the Governing Council. The Chief Executive of this Institute is the Director General who is also Member Secretary of the Governing Council.

Research & Development

Promote applied research in power system technology development.
Become a national leader of international repute in total engineering consultancy for power sector.
Provide prompt services to manufacturers and utilities in quality assurance testing and certification of products and goods delivered to power sector.
Provide assistance to power sector in improving efficiency and reliability in all spheres of activity.
Provide services in the area of condition monitoring, renovation, modernization and life extension of power plant and equipment through diagnostic and life extension studies for achieving economy & reliability in power systems.
Update and upgrade technology to meet the growing needs of the power sector.

Evaluation & Testing

The Institute has several research laboratories and testing facilities engaged in different specialized fields. It has at present about 300 engineers and scientists besides other supporting staff to guide and maintain various operations of the institute. The main setup of the institute is at Bengaluru and its units are situated in Noida, Bhopal, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Guwahati.

Consultancy Services

CPRI is a premier autonomous society established under the Ministry of Power to serve as a National Laboratory to carry out applied research in Electrical Power Engineering. It also functions as an independent National Testing & Certification Authority for Electrical Equipment for ensuring their reliability and improve, innovate and develop new products and processes.

The Institute, since its existence for over five decades has built sophisticated facilities both in the areas of research & testing. The important facilities include 2500 MVA Short Circuit Testing with Synthetic Testing Facility at Bengaluru. Ultra High Voltage Research Laboratory at Hyderabad, Short Circuit Testing Facility at Bhopal. Thermal Research Centre at Koradi, Nagpur and Energy of the power sector. A state-of-art test facility for seismic qualification of electric equipment has been set up and commissioned. The Institute has also commissioned the Real Time Digital Simulation (RTDS) facility.

The quest for quality is an on-going process at CPRI the reason why most of CPRI's laboratories are accredited under National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration of Laboratories (NABL), the National body for accreditation of laboratories as per ISO/IEC 17025 norms. CPRI Laboratories have been assessed by ASTA BEAB, UK for testing of LV and MV equipment as per ISO/IEC 17025 norms. CPRI has been assessed and determined to fully comply with the requirements of ISO / IEC 17025:2005-05. CPRI is therefore entitled to operate as an Indian CB Testing laboratory under the BIS as National Certification Body and to carry out testing within the IECEE CB Scheme. CPRI has been granted full membership of Short Circuit Testing Liaison (STL) club. CPRI became only the second member in Asia to get such distinction. CPRI has also been granted ISO 9001:2000 certification from NVT - KEMA for its research and consultancy. The Certification covers R&D, Sponsored research & consultancy activities of specified Divisions at Bengaluru and Thermal Research Centre, Nagpur.

The Institute takes up R & D programs keeping abreast with the latest technological developments in the areas of Generation, Transmission & Distribution of Power, some of which are sponsored by the Industries.

CPRI was instrumental in preparing the National Perspective Plan for R & D in Indian Power Sector with an R & D Road map for 15 years. This report is prepared for submission to the Ministry of Power by the Standing Committee on Research appointed by the Ministry. The Perspective Plan covers the vision of R & D, areas for research, fund requirements, likely benefits, policy issues and HRD challenges faced by the Power Sector.

Ministry of Power, Govt. of India, has also entrusted CPRI to act as a nodal agency to administer the Research Scheme on Power (RSOP) including the funding of research in the country. Techno-economic evaluation is the major responsibility of CPRI. During the current year, 34 research projects are being investigated by 13 organizations including 2 state utilities.

Central Power Research Institute has been appointed as Advisor-cum-Consultant (AcC) for the purpose of capacity building in the State Electricity Boards (SEB)/ Power Utilities of Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. The AcCs are appointed under the Accelerated Power Development & Reforms Program (APDRP) of Government of India. This prestigious consultancy appointment has been made by the Ministry of Power, Govt. of India considering CPRI's expertise in the areas of power transmission & distribution studies and also similar consultancy services rendered by CPRI to Electricity Regulatory Commissions in India. The efforts of strengthening of transmission and distribution systems in the country culminated in the initiation of the APDRP with the objectives of reduction in T & D losses both technical and commercial, ensuring reduction of outages, improvement in quality of power and enhancement of revenue earnings, a significant milestone in the era of Reforms in Power Sector.

The Institute also offers its expertise for conducting Third Party Inspection Services for power equipment procured by Utilities. So far the services have been utilised by Tamil Nadu State Electricity Board, APTRANSCO, APGENCO, Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. (KPTCL), Uttar & Dakshin Haryana Bijily Vitran Nigam Ltd. and GRIDCO, Orissa etc.

(ii) Head of the organization

(iii) Vision, Mission and Key objectives

(iv) Function and duties

The affairs of CPRI are managed, administered, directed and controlled by the Governing Council headed by Secretary, Ministry of Power, Govt. of India.

Power Of The President Of The CPRI Governing Council

• Appointments to posts of Joint Director or equivalent and above shall be made by the President;
• Provided that appointments to the posts of Director General and the next lower level shall be made with the approval of the Government of India.
• The Governing Council may by Resolution delegate to the President such of its power for the conduct of business as they may deem fit, subject to the condition that the action taken by the President under the powers delegated by this rule shall be reported for confirmation at the next meeting of the Governing Council.
• The President may, in writing, delegate such of his powers as may be necessary to the Vice- President or the Director General.
• The president shall have the authority to review periodically the work and progress of the Society, to order enquiries into the affairs of the Society, and to pass orders on the recommendation of the reviewing or enquiry committees.

DirectionsI by The Central Government

• In discharge of its functions the Society shall be guided by such instruction on question of policy as may be given to it by the Central Government.
• If any dispute arises between the Central Government and the Society as to whether a question is or is not a question of policy, the decision of the Government of India shall be final.
• That in the event of disagreement between representatives of the Ministry of Finance and Chairman of the Governing Council, CPRI on the financial matters beyond the delegated powers of the Ministry/Department of the Govt. of India, the matter may be referred to the Minister of Administrative Ministry concerned and the Finance Minister for a decision.

The Director General

• Director General as the principal executive Officer of the Society, shall be responsible for the proper administration of the affairs of the Society under the direction and guidance of the Governing Council.
• The Director General, shall in all matters under his charge, have powers similar to the powers of a Head of Department under the Govt. of India. Also in all matters connected with the execution of works of the Society, he shall have powers similar to powers of the Chief Engineer in Central Public Works Department.
• The Director General shall coordinate and exercise general supervision over all training and other activities under the Society.
• The Director General shall have full financial power of the Ministry as specified in Delegation of Financial Power Rules, 1978 to authorize expenditure for the purpose of travel, transport, canteen etc. subject to the budgetary ceiling previously approved under various sub-heads and shall further be subject to the condition that all orders of economy and reappropriation issued by the Government of India are strictly observed.
• Subject to the provisions contained in Rule 45 of the Rules & Regulations of the Society, Director General shall be the appointing authority to all other categories of officers and staff.
• He shall prescribe the duties of all officers and staff of the Society and shall exercise such supervision and disciplinary control as may be necessary subject to these rules and the bye-laws.
• It shall be the duty of the Director General to co-ordinate and exercise general supervision over all scientific and industrial researches and other activities under the society.
• The Director General shall exercise his powers under the direction, superintendence and control of the President of the Society.

• The society shall maintain proper accounts and other relevant records and prepare annual statement of accounts including the balance sheet in such forms as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
• The Accounts of the Society shall be audited annually by an authority approved by the Government for the purpose and any expenditure incurred in connection with the audit of accounts of the Society shall be payable by the society.
• The auditing authority shall have the right to demand the production of books, accounts, connected vouchers and other documents and papers and inspect any of the offices of the Society.
• The accounts of the society, as certified by the auditing authority, together with the audit report thereon shall be forwarded annually to the Central Government and the Government shall the same to be laid before Parliament.
• CPRI, being a National Apex Body for R&D in Power Sector, set up by the Government of India, Ministry of Power, follows all Central Government Rules and instructions mutatis-mutandis. The affairs of the CPRI are managed, administered directed and controlled by the Governing Council headed by the Secretary, Ministry of Power, who is the president of the Governing Council and CPRI Society.

(i) Nature of functions/ services offered

CPRI discharges its functions within the ambit of Memorandum of Association. Rules & Regulations and Bye-laws. The Rules, Regulations, orders and instructions issued by the Government from time to time regulating the conditions of service of employees of the Government are applicable to the employees of the CPRI subject to the Rules & Regulations of the Society.

(ii) Norms/ standards for functions/ service delivery

(iii) Process by which these services can be accessed

(iv) Time-limit for achieving the targets

(v) Process of redress of grievances

(i) Title and nature of the record/ manual /instruction.

Memorandum of Association, Rules and Regulations, Bye-Laws, Working Rule No. 1 & Working Rule No. 2 of the CPRI society (Amended upto 16.06.1989). The Bye Laws, Rules and Regulations are amended with the approval of Governing Council and CPRI Society at special General Meeting.

(click here to view Bye Laws)

Quality Certificates

The quest for quality is an on-going process at CPRI the reason why most of CPRI's laboratories are accredited under National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration of Laboratories (NABL), the National body for accreditation of Laboratories as per ISO/IEC 17025 norms. CPRI has been conferred "Member Status" in the group of Short Circuit Testing Liaison (STL) of Europe. CPRI laboratories are approved for testing for certain products like communication cables, LT capacitors etc., by Under Writers Laboratories (UL) & Canadian Standard Association (CSA). The facilities at Bengaluru and Bhopal have been accredited by ASTA BEABUK for testing of LV and MV equipment. The Research & Consultancy activities are accredited as per ISO 9001:2015(click here to view Accreditations /Recognition)

(click here to view Accreditations/Recognition)

(ii) List of Rules, regulations, instructions manuals and records.

(iii) Acts/ Rules manuals etc.

(iv) Transfer policy and transfer orders

(i) Categories of documents

(a) Memorandum of Association and Rules & Regulations, Bye-Laws, Registration Certificate of CPRI issued by the Office of Registrar of Societies, in Karnataka.

(click here to view Bye Laws)

(b) Certificate of accreditation of CPRI

(c) MoU's entered with University, IIT and other organizations.

(d) Quality Manual for Testing & Certification

(e) Quality Manual for R&D and Consultancy

(f) Dead stock register of equipment and immovable goods

(g) Measurement Books for Civil Works

(h) Agreement contracts for outsourching various jobs / consultancy Jobs / MoU / RFD with the Ministry

(ii) Custodian of documents / categories

(i) Name of Boards, Council, Committee etc.

The following Committees are set up for managing the activities of the Institute

a) Governing Council of CPRI
b) Standing Committee of CPRI
c) Committee on Testing & Certification
d) Committee on Research
e) Standing Committee for Research — NPP Projects

   f) High Power Committee

(ii) Composition

(iii) Dates from which constituted

(iv) Term/ Tenure

(v) Powers and functions

(vi) Whether their meetings are open to the public?

Not applicable

(vii) Whether the minutes of the meetings are open to the public?

Not applicable

(viii) Place where the minutes if open to the public are available?

Not applicable

(i) Name and designation

Directory of CPRI Officers and employees

Employees of CPRI

(ii) Telephone , fax and email ID

Telephone DirectoryCPRI Telephone Directory

(i) List of employees with Gross monthly remuneration

(ii) System of compensation as provided in its regulations

(i) Name and designation of the public information officer (PIO), Assistant Public Information (s) & Appellate Authority

Public Information Officers (RTI):

Nodal Officer (RTI):

Appellate Authority (RTI):

(ii) Address, telephone numbers and email ID of each designated official.

No. of employees against whom disciplinary action has been

(i) Pending for Minor penalty or major penalty proceedings

Minor Penalty

Major Penalty

0

1

(ii) Finalised for Minor penalty or major penalty proceedings

Minor Penalty

Major Penalty

0

1

(i) Educational programmes

CPRI Officials are trained in their respective area based on requirement.

(ii) Efforts to encourage public authority to participate in these programmes

CPRI officials are encouraged to participate in Workshop/ Seminar/ Conference.

(iii) Training of CPIO/APIO

CPIO/ APIO are trained for RTI matters

(iv) Update & publish guidelines on RTI by the Public Authorities concerned

Information is provided in the CPRI website

Transfer policy