New Delhi: More than 40 lakh households are now benefiting from rooftop solar systems under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, contributing significantly to the nation’s clean energy transition. The scheme, which was launched in February 2024, aims to bring rooftop solar to one crore Indian homes by March 2027. Officials have noted an unprecedented pace of adoption, with more than one lakh households benefiting every eight days in May.
State-wise Performance
Gujarat leads the installations with 6.8 lakh households, followed by Maharashtra with six lakh and Uttar Pradesh with 5.6 lakh. These three states account for a major share of the total installations under the scheme.
Rooftop Solar Capacity
India’s total installed solar power capacity is estimated at 154 GW, of which rooftop systems contribute 11.8 GW from over 32 lakh installations. The difference between installations and households covered arises because multiple residential units can share a single larger rooftop system, common in apartment complexes and cooperative housing societies.
Benefits and Subsidies
With a 3-kilowatt (kW) rooftop solar system, households can receive up to 300 units of free electricity per month. The central government provides a subsidy of up to Rs 78,000 for a 3 kW system, and most states offer additional subsidies. While higher-capacity systems can be installed, the subsidy is limited to 3 kW. The Centre has released subsidies worth Rs 22,600 crore so far.
Homeowners can also earn income by feeding surplus electricity back into the grid through net metering, effectively turning rooftops into income-generating assets.
New and Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi stated on X: “More than a renewable energy initiative, this transformative scheme is turning citizens from power consumers to power producers, enabling families to reduce electricity expenses, benefit from government subsidies, and move towards zero electricity bills.”
The scheme has gained momentum rapidly, with over 40 lakh households already covered against a target of one crore by March 2027. The pace of adoption is expected to accelerate further as awareness and infrastructure improve.
