India Approaches 41 Lakh Households Under Rooftop Solar Programme, Aims for 75 Lakh by Year-End

India to Achieve 75 Lakh Rooftop Solar Power Households by December

India's Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, expressed confidence on Thursday that the country will meet its target of 75 lakh rooftop solar power households under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana by December. This goal is ambitious, considering the current number of 41 lakh households.

The government launched the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana in February 2024 with an outlay of Rs 75,021 crore. The scheme aims to install rooftop solar installations and provide free electricity of up to 300 units every month for one crore households. The central financial assistance (CFA) for the scheme is divided as follows: 60 per cent of the cost for 2 kW systems and 40 per cent of the additional cost for systems between 2 and 3 kW capacity. The CFA is capped at 3 kW.

Beneficiaries under the scheme receive a subsidy of Rs 30,000 for 1 kW systems, Rs 60,000 for 2 kW systems, and Rs 78,000 for 3 kW systems or higher. The scheme has already achieved significant milestones, with over 65 lakh applications in the pipeline and 40 lakh solar-powered households in just two years.

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Comparison of Rooftop Solar Installations

The ULA model is expected to benefit poor and middle-income households, especially those consuming 1-3 KW of electricity. The minister has directed officials to fast-track the implementation of rooftop solar installations on government buildings, with a target of installing solar systems on 80 per cent of government buildings.

The response to the scheme has been overwhelming, reflecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of making solar energy accessible to every household. The scheme has already achieved significant results, including:

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• Over 17 lakh households achieving zero electricity bills, resulting in direct savings for families.
• Beneficiary households earning over Rs 421 crore by selling surplus solar power back to the grid.
• More than Rs 22,750 crore in subsidies disbursed, including Rs 2,743 crore in May 2026 alone.

The pace of adoption has increased dramatically, from 118 days to add one lakh households to less than eight days today. The minister is hopeful that by the end of 2026, the scheme will cross 75 lakh households, with the ULA model expected to benefit undeserved households using 1-3 kW systems.