Key Highlights
- Ten lakh rooftop solar units installed by 10 March 2025, marking a historic milestone.
- ₹4,770 crore subsidy released to 6.13 lakh beneficiaries; 3 GW of capacity already operational.
- Goal to equip 1 crore households with solar systems by 2026‑27, scaling to 30 GW by 2027.
- Collateral‑free loans up to ₹2 lakh at 6.75 % interest are available through twelve public sector banks.
- Model Solar Village grants of ₹1 crore per district aim to energize rural economies.
Detailed Insights
The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 13 February 2024, is driving India’s transition to renewable power. As of 10 March 2025, the programme has completed ten lakh rooftop installations, translating into roughly 3 GW of installed capacity. Subsidy disbursements total ₹4,770 crore, benefiting 6.13 lakh households, while 3.10 lakh loan applications have been lodged; 1.58 lakh have been sanctioned and 1.28 lakh funds already disbursed.
The financial model combines a consumption‑based subsidy (₹30,000‑₹60,000 for 0‑150 kWh, ₹60,000‑₹78,000 for 150‑300 kWh, and a flat ₹78,000 for usage above 300 kWh) with interest‑subsidised, collateral‑free credit. The scheme also promises rapid subsidy transfers within 15 days via the National Portal.
Geographically, Chandigarh and the union territories of Daman & Diu have achieved full compliance for government buildings, while Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu lead in residential uptake. The Model Solar Village component allocates ₹800 crore overall, granting ₹1 crore to the top‑performing village in each district to foster energy self‑sufficiency.
Projected outcomes include 30 GW of rooftop solar by 2027, a reduction of 720 million tonnes of CO₂ over 25 years, and annual savings of about ₹75,000 crore in government electricity expenditures. The initiative also anticipates the creation of 17 lakh jobs across manufacturing, logistics, installation, and O&M sectors, and additional income streams for households that sell surplus power to DISCOMs.
Key Concepts
- Collateral‑Free Loan: A credit facility up to ₹2 lakh offered without asset security, subsidised at 6.75 % interest.
- Consumption‑Based Subsidy: Financial support tiered according to a household’s average monthly electricity usage, encouraging larger system adoption.
- Model Solar Village: A district‑level pilot that provides ₹1 crore to the highest‑performing village to achieve complete rooftop solar coverage.
- Aatmanirbhar Bharat: The national vision of self‑reliance, which the scheme reinforces through domestic solar manufacturing and job creation.