RM Nachammai Becomes First Woman to Head Operations of Functional Nuclear Power Plant in India

Category : Appointment/Resignation Published on: March 10 2026

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RM Nachammai has created history by becoming the first woman to head operations of a functional nuclear power plant in India under the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). She has been appointed Chief Superintendent of Kaiga Generating Station Units 3 and 4 in Karnataka, effective 15 March 2026. Her appointment is viewed as a significant milestone for gender representation in India's highly specialised nuclear energy sector.
As Chief Superintendent, Nachammai will oversee operations, maintenance and engineering support divisions of the nuclear reactor complex at Kaiga. She brings over 35 years of experience in nuclear power plant operations. A graduate in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Madras, she joined NPCIL in 1991, topping her batch of engineer trainees and earning the prestigious Vikram Sarabhai Award for her outstanding performance.
Throughout her career, Nachammai has served at the Madras Atomic Power Station and Kaiga Generating Station Units 1 and 2, receiving the NPCIL Special Contribution Award in 2010, 2014 and 2017. Her appointment is particularly significant as India targets expansion of nuclear power capacity to 100 gigawatts by 2047. The Kaiga Nuclear Power Station currently operates four Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors with a total installed capacity of 880 MW.