Hydro power capacity
Hydro power capacity in India rose modestly in December 2025, crossing 43.7 GW after NHPC’s Subansiri Lower project was reclassified as operational. CEA records show in-service capacity increasing by about 316.5 MW month-on-month, with Subansiri Lower accounting for the bulk of the change.
The 250 MW project’s entry lifts the Northeast Region’s hydro base to 2,273 MW. This matters because the region has seen repeated construction delays and weather-related setbacks, even as it remains central to long-term flexible generation planning.
The reclassification also reduces the under-construction pipeline. National under-construction hydro capacity fell below 13 GW in December, mirroring Subansiri Lower’s shift into operation. This suggests that the pipeline is shrinking due to category movement rather than a broader acceleration in project execution.
Meanwhile, the continued absence of Teesta-III from operational capacity highlights ongoing vulnerability. Despite its 1,200 MW size, flood damage has kept it excluded from the national supply base, reinforcing how single events can offset incremental gains.The December milestone reflects stabilisation rather than growth momentum. From a system perspective, dependable Hydro power capacity contributes more to flexibility than raw additions. EnergylineIndia.com analyses how Hydro power capacity, as tracked through CEA hydro data, is evolving amid basin risks and uneven progress across Northeast hydro projects, Hydro Projects, Subansiri Lower, Power System, Energy India.
