Govt Gives Nod to Solar Scheme Providing 300 Free Monthly Units to 1 Crore Families

Union Cabinet has approved the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at promoting solar energy adoption across India. This visionary scheme, launched by the Prime Minister on February 13, 2024, features a substantial outlay of Rs. 75,021 crores. Its primary objective is to facilitate the installation of rooftop solar panels while offering free electricity up to 300 units per month to one crore households.

Central Financial Assistance (CFA)

One of the key features of the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana is the provision of Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for residential rooftop solar systems. Under this scheme, households can avail a CFA of 60% of the system cost for 2 kW systems and 40% of the additional system cost for systems ranging between 2 to 3 kW capacity. The CFA is capped at 3 kW, translating to substantial subsidies such as Rs. 30,000 for a 1 kW system, Rs. 60,000 for 2 kW systems, and Rs. 78,000 for 3 kW systems or higher.

Application Process and Financial Support

Households interested in availing the subsidy can apply through the National Portal, where they can select suitable vendors for rooftop solar installation. The National Portal aids decision-making by providing relevant information on system sizes, benefits calculators, vendor ratings, and more. Additionally, households can access collateral-free, low-interest loan products, currently set at around 7%, for the installation of residential rooftop solar systems up to 3 kW capacity.

The PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana also encompasses various other components aimed at holistic solar energy promotion. This includes the development of a Model Solar Village in each district to inspire adoption in rural areas, incentives for Urban Local Bodies and Panchayati Raj Institutions to promote rooftop solar installations, and provisions for payment security in RESCO-based models, along with a fund for innovative rooftop solar projects.

PM-Surya Ghar: Outcomes and Impact

The implementation of this scheme is ready to revolutionize the energy landscape of the country. Participating households stand to significantly reduce their electricity bills and even earn additional income by selling surplus power to DISCOMs. With a 3 kW system capable of generating over 300 units per month on average, the scheme targets the addition of 30 GW of solar capacity through rooftop installations, resulting in the generation of 1000 BUs of electricity and a reduction of 720 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions over a 25-year period.

Moreover, the scheme is anticipated to catalyze job creation, with an estimated 17 lakh direct jobs expected to be generated across various sectors including manufacturing, logistics, supply chain, sales, installation, and operations & maintenance.

To facilitate easy access to the scheme's benefits, the government has launched a comprehensive awareness campaign. Interested households can register themselves on the official website (https://pmsuryaghar.gov.in) to initiate the process of availing benefits under the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.