PM Surya Ghar: 50.06 Million Residential Rooftop Solar Systems Installed

Under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, 50.06 million (5.006 million) residential rooftop solar power systems have been installed across India. This milestone reflects the rapid expansion of residential rooftop solar energy and the successful implementation of the scheme to promote clean and renewable energy.

The scheme aims to increase the adoption of rooftop solar systems in households, reduce electricity expenses, strengthen energy self-reliance, and lower dependence on conventional energy sources. Eligible households receive financial assistance through government subsidies, making rooftop solar installations more affordable and accessible.

PM Surya Ghar: Free Electricity Scheme

¨     Launch: Launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) on February 13, 2024.

¨     Total Outlay: ₹75,021 crore.

¨     Target: To equip 1 crore households with solar power by March 2027, providing up to 300 units of free electricity per month through rooftop solar plants.

¨     Coverage: A demand-driven scheme open to all domestic consumers with grid-connected electricity connections.

¨     Objective: To promote the adoption of rooftop solar energy to reduce electricity bills, strengthen domestic energy security, and accelerate India's clean energy transition.

Key Features

¨     Central financial assistance (subsidy) of up to 40% of the cost for installing rooftop solar plants is provided via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), subject to a maximum cap of ₹78,000.

¨     Collateral-free concessional loans are available at an interest rate of 5.75% (Repo rate + 50 basis points) through the 'Jan Samarth' platform.

¨     The entire process—from application to subsidy disbursement—is 100% online via the national portal.

¨     Subsidy is typically released within 15 days of plant installation and commissioning, facilitated by integration with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS).

¨     Automatic approval, exemption from technical feasibility requirements, and automatic load enhancement facilities are available for rooftop solar systems up to 10 kW.

¨     Transparent and smooth implementation is ensured through digital net-metering agreements, API integration with over 80 electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs), a vendor evaluation system, and DCR portal integration.

¨     Application and net-metering fees have been waived by 32 states and Union Territories.

Key Components

¨     Discom-based Aggregation Model: This model facilitates the adoption of rooftop solar energy among beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, families living below the poverty line (BPL), and Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) households.

¨     Under this model, the installation of 1.6 lakh systems has been completed across four states, and implementation has been approved in 12 states.

¨     Model Solar Village: The scheme aims to establish a 'Model Solar Village' in every district, with a total budgetary provision of ₹800 crore.

¨     An incentive of ₹1 crore is awarded to the best-performing village in each district to encourage the adoption of decentralized renewable energy.

Significance of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana

¨     Rapid Expansion of Residential Rooftop Solar: The scheme has surpassed the milestone of installing 50.06 lakh rooftop solar systems, with an operational capacity of 14.8 GW. The pace of installation has increased 3.2-fold, and currently, approximately 1 lakh new households are joining the scheme every six days.

¨     Household Savings and Income Generation: Around 19 lakh households are receiving zero-cost electricity bills, while over 12 lakh households earned ₹421 crore in the 2024–25 financial year by selling surplus electricity. This resulted in an additional annual income of approximately ₹3,500 per household.

¨     Boosting Green Growth and Employment: The scheme has fostered a comprehensive rooftop solar ecosystem nationwide, comprising 34,219 registered vendors (including 29,469 active vendors). Over 2.32 lakh individuals have been trained under the initiative, and it is expected to generate approximately 17 lakh direct jobs. Promoting Energy Security and Clean Energy Transition: By fostering decentralized rooftop solar power, equipping 1.06 lakh government buildings with solar energy systems, and targeting an additional 30 GW of rooftop solar capacity, this scheme strengthens domestic energy security and accelerates India's clean energy transition.

¨     Supporting India's Climate Commitments: The scheme contributes to India's goal of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based power capacity by 2030. It also supports the achievement of the net-zero emissions target by 2070, in line with the 'Panchamrit' commitments and the updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.