PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (Current Events)
PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (Current Events)
Why In News:
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy announced that the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana has crossed 50.06 lakh household rooftop solar installations, achieved in just over two years since launch, compared to only 7.94 lakh installations recorded in the preceding decade, marking a sharp acceleration in India's decentralised clean energy rollout.
Source: PIB, 4 Aug 2026
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2294208®=48&lang=1
About the Scheme
Launch: Launched on 13 February 2024 by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) as the world's largest domestic rooftop solar programme.
Financial outlay: Total outlay of ₹75,021 crore, offering subsidy support and collateral-free concessional loans (around 7% interest) to households.
Target: Aims to cover 1 crore households with rooftop solar, providing up to 300 free units of electricity per month via net metering.
Eligibility: Indian citizens, homeowners, valid electricity connection, no prior solar subsidy.
Key components of the Scheme
Central Financial Assistance (CFA): Offers financial support to residential households for installing rooftop solar systems via the National Portal.
Model Solar Village Initiative: Aims to develop one solar-powered village per district; eligible villages (population >5,000 or 2,000 in special category states) are assessed based on renewable energy capacity after six months, with the top-performing village receiving ₹1 crore assistance.
Key Latest Statistics
Milestone: 50.06 lakh households have benefited; cumulative rooftop capacity commissioned stands at 14.8 GW.
Subsidy disbursed: Around ₹28,024 crore in subsidies released so far, helping roughly 19 lakh households achieve zero electricity bills.
Pace target: The scheme is now adding about 1 lakh beneficiary households every six days.
Key Facts for Prelims
Net metering: Allows households to sell surplus solar power back to DISCOMs, creating an additional income stream besides bill savings.
DISCOM subsidy burden: Rooftop solar adoption is expected to ease the subsidy burden on Distribution Companies (DISCOMs) by reducing subsidised grid consumption.
Energy security angle: The scheme supports India's twin goals of energy security and energy independence, reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels.