- PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana was launched on 13 February 2024 by the Government of India.
- The scheme aims to install rooftop solar systems in 1 crore residential households across India.
- Eligible households can receive a subsidy of up to ₹78,000 in general states and ₹85,800 in special-category states under the original guidelines.
- The scheme aims to help households generate up to 300 units of electricity per month through rooftop solar systems.
- Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India
- Phone (PM Surya Ghar National Helpline): 15555
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Summary of the Scheme
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|---|---|
| Name of Scheme | PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana |
| Launch Year | 2024 |
| Benefits | Up to 300 units of free electricity per month and rooftop solar subsidy of up to ₹78,000. |
| Beneficiary | Residential electricity consumers across India. |
| Nodal Agency | Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) |
| Subscription | Subscribe here to get Update Regarding Scheme |
| Mode of Apply | Online through the PM Surya Ghar National Portal |
PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana
Electricity bills keep rising, while most rooftops in India sit unused. PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, launched by the Government of India on 13 February 2024, helps households put up rooftop solar panels with a subsidy and cheap loans. It aims to install rooftop solar in 1 crore households and add 30 GW of rooftop capacity. Households can generate electricity equivalent to up to 300 units a month, lower their bills, and earn from surplus power sent to the grid.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) runs the scheme, with REC Limited as National Programme Implementing Agency and state DISCOMs as State Implementation Agencies. The approved outlay is ₹75,021 crore, including ₹65,700 crore for residential subsidies, and the scheme is originally approved to run until 31 March 2027.
Key Benefits
- Central Financial Assistance (CFA): up to ₹78,000 in general states and up to ₹85,800 in special-category states, under the original guidelines
- Collateral-free solar loans at a concessional rate of repo rate plus 0.5%, with a 10-year repayment period
- Surplus power can be exported to the grid through net metering
- 5-year free Comprehensive Maintenance Contract (CMC) from the registered vendor
- Subsidy paid into your bank account after installation, inspection, and commissioning. If you took a linked loan, it is credited to the loan account first.
- Support for Group Housing Societies (GHS) and Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) for common facilities such as lifts, water pumps, lighting, and EV charging
- Jobs in solar manufacturing, transport, installation, and maintenance
Subsidy Rates (Original Guidelines)
| System capacity | General states | Special-category states |
|---|---|---|
| 1 kW | ₹30,000 | ₹33,000 |
| 2 kW | ₹60,000 | ₹66,000 |
| 3 kW or more | ₹78,000 | ₹85,800 |
General states get ₹30,000 per kW for the first 2 kW and ₹18,000 for the additional 1 kW. Special-category states, including Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and the North-Eastern states, get the higher rates. A 2 kW system in a general state, for example, earns ₹60,000.
These are the original guideline rates. Check the latest rates on the National Portal before installing, as later changes may affect your assistance.
Who Can Apply?
- An Indian citizen who owns a house with a suitable roof, terrace, balcony, or elevated structure
- A valid residential grid-connected electricity connection with the DISCOM, registered in your name or tagged to you as a residential consumer
- No other government subsidy for the same installation
- Solar modules must be DCR-compliant (Domestic Content Requirement), made in India with domestically manufactured cells
- Installation through a vendor registered on the National Portal
- Technical and metering standards must be met
Not eligible for residential CFA: commercial, industrial, and government consumers, off-grid systems, and non-DCR modules.
Documents Required
- Latest electricity bill with consumer account number
- Aadhaar or other valid ID
- Registered mobile number
- Bank account details, plus a cancelled cheque, passbook copy, or statement
- Agreement with the registered solar vendor
- Net-metering agreement with the DISCOM, where applicable
- Pre- and post-installation photographs, including geo-tagged ones as required on the portal
Your bank details must match the beneficiary information on the portal. The DISCOM or bank may ask for more.
How to Choose a Vendor
- Check the registered vendor list on the National Portal for your area.
- Compare vendors, ratings, and quotations. The Vendor Rating Programme Framework explains the rating system.
- Confirm DCR-compliant panels.
- Ask for details of panels, inverter, capacity, cost, and warranty.
- Confirm the 5-year free CMC.
- Finalise the agreement and keep the quotation and payment records.
Installations through unregistered vendors do not qualify for CFA.
How to Apply
Applications are online on the National Portal.
- Open the portal, go to the consumer section, and choose Consumer Login or apply for rooftop solar.
- Register your mobile number, complete the captcha, accept the guidelines, and verify the OTP.
- Complete your profile with name, email, address, state, district, and PIN code.
- Submit the application: choose your state, district, and DISCOM, enter your consumer account number, fetch the details, enter the proposed capacity, and submit. Keep the application ID.
- Wait for technical feasibility approval. For systems up to 10 kW, feasibility is deemed approved.
- Select a registered vendor and have the system installed.
- Upload installation details and geo-tagged photographs, and apply for net metering.
- DISCOM inspection and commissioning: After inspection and net meter installation, the commissioning certificate is generated on the portal.
- Claim the subsidy: submit your bank details and a clear cancelled cheque or passbook copy. After verification, the CFA is transferred.
How to Check Your Application Status
- Open the National Portal and sign in under Consumer Login.
- Open your submitted application.
- Check feasibility approval, installation, inspection, and commissioning progress.
- After claiming the subsidy, check the payment or redemption status.
For delays, contact your DISCOM or call 15555.
CAPEX, RESCO, and ULA Models
| Model | How it works |
|---|---|
| CAPEX | You pay for the system and own it. The subsidy goes to you after verification. |
| RESCO | A third-party renewable energy company installs and owns the system. You use the power and pay under the agreed arrangement instead of buying the system upfront. |
| Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) | The DISCOM or its agency coordinates installations for many households. |
5-Year Free Maintenance
- The vendor must provide free comprehensive maintenance for five years from commissioning
- The system must meet a minimum performance ratio of 75%
- Vendors may face penalties or de-registration for failing their duties
- Complaints go through the grievance process, with resolution due within 30 days
Keep a copy of the vendor agreement and maintenance terms.
How Net Metering Works
- Solar panels generate power during the day for your appliances.
- Surplus power goes to the grid.
- When solar output falls short, you draw from the grid.
- The net meter records imports and exports, and the DISCOM adjusts your bill under state regulations.
Whether and how exported power is paid for depends on your state’s rules.
How Much Can You Save?
According to the Government of India’s estimate, a 3 kW system can save a household about ₹1,875 a month. Even after an estimated loan EMI of ₹610, that works out to about ₹15,000 a year. Actual savings depend on consumption, rooftop conditions, solar output, tariffs, and net-metering rules.
Contact
PM Surya Ghar National Helpline: 15555 (12 languages)
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)
Scheme contact: Ashish Batham, Under Secretary, PM-Surya Ghar: 011-20849066
Grievance Redressal Authority: Mir Mohammed Ali, Director, PM-Surya Ghar: 011-20849068
Address: Atal Akshay Urja Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003
No dedicated scheme email address was verified. You can also file grievances through the National Portal.
Subsidy rates, rules, and the scheme period can change, so check the National Portal and MNRE for the latest information before applying.