Over 39.7 lakh rooftop solar systems installed under PM Surya Ghar scheme: Minister
New Delhi, July 28
As many as 18.71 lakh rooftop solar systems were installed during 2025-26, adding a cumulative installed solar capacity of 6.7 GW and benefitting 22.71 lakh households nationwide under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, the government said on Tuesday.
A total of 39,72,447 RTS systems has been installed, since the scheme's launch in February 2024, benefitting 48,02,717 households across the country, including rural households, MoS New & Renewable Energy, Shripad Yesso Naik said in Rajya Sabha.
While the electricity bills of consumers installed RTS under the scheme have been largely reduced, over 18.93 lakh beneficiaries have been reported by DISCOMs across the country, including the rural households to receive zero electricity bill after installation of RTS systems under the scheme during at least a billing period.
The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSG: MBY) is a demand-driven scheme wherein all residential consumers in the country including the rural households, holding a grid-connected electricity connection with the local DISCOM, can avail the benefits of the scheme.
Benefits for installation of rooftop solar systems can be availed by applying on the National Portal of the scheme.
Apart from installation of rooftop solar plants in the residential sector, the PMSG: MBY also envisages installation of RTS plants in Government and commercial buildings including educational and health institutions.
However, central financial assistance (CFA) is not provided to these categories of consumers as installation of rooftop solar plants is financially viable for them even without CFA, the minister noted.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), nearly half of India's additional electricity demand between now and 2030 is expected to be met through solar energy.
Another quarter is likely to come from other low-carbon sources including wind, hydroelectric and nuclear power, the report said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally, some tangible results! My parents in a Tier-2 city got a 3kW system installed last year, and their monthly bill came down from ₹2,000 to almost zero. The subsidy process was smooth—took about 3 weeks. But I've heard stories of delays in some states. Need more accountability from DISCOMs. Still, a big thumbs-up for the scheme! 👍
Impressive numbers! I'm an expat working in Delhi, and it's heartening to see India pushing solar so aggressively. The 18.93 lakh zero-bill households is a strong metric. But the IEA projection is ambitious—can DISCOMs upgrade the grid fast enough for all this decentralized generation? Hope investments in smart meters and grid balancing keep pace.
The "Muft Bijli" claim is catchy but slightly misleading—most households still pay fixed charges to DISCOMs, and net metering limits mean you don't get full credit for surplus power. One neighbor of mine with a 5kW system still gets a bill of ₹100-200/month due to these charges. Still, it's way better than before, and the environmental gain is real. Kudos to the initiative!
It's fascinating that commercial buildings don't get subsidies—makes sense given they have business models for ROI. But I'd love to see more data on how many schools and health centers have adopted rooftop solar under this scheme. In my work with rural NGOs, we've seen solar power transformed livelihoods in off-grid areas. Transparency in reporting could build more trust.
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