PM Surya Ghar Scheme crosses 25 lakh rooftop solar homes

Srinagar, Jan 14: India’s solar story is no longer unfolding in deserts and mega parks.

It is playing out quietly on rooftops, where families are discovering that sunlight can pay the power bill.

With the PM Surya Ghar Yojana crossing 25 lakh homes and Jammu and Kashmir showing steady uptake, rooftop solar is emerging as a key pillar of India’s decentralised clean-energy transition, blending subsidies, savings, and self-reliance into everyday life.

India crossed a major milestone in its clean energy journey with more than 25 lakh households installing rooftop solar systems under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.

This has led to reduced electricity bills and wider access to clean power across the country.

Officials said households covered under the scheme are benefiting from cleaner energy and substantial savings on monthly power bills.

Announcing the achievement on social media last week, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi said the milestone reflects India’s progress in expanding renewable energy and empowering families through rooftop solar adoption.

He said subsidies of up to Rs 78,000 were being provided to eligible beneficiaries for installing rooftop solar plants.

Launched in February 2024, the scheme aims to cover 1 crore households by the financial year 2026-27 with a total outlay of Rs 75,021 crore.

The PM Surya Ghar Yojana is a demand-driven initiative open to all residential consumers with grid-connected electricity connections.

Applications are processed through a national portal, allowing households to select vendors and receive Central Financial Assistance directly.

As of early January 2026, a total of 7075.78 MW of rooftop solar capacity had been installed under the scheme across the country.

The scheme is gaining steady momentum in Jammu and Kashmir, where officials report a consistent rise in household participation.

According to official data, 13,615 rooftop solar systems have been installed in J&K so far.

Of the 13,579 rooftop solar installations, 5413 consumers have already received zero electricity bills, which officials described as a clear indicator of the scheme’s impact.

J&K has set a target to cover 83,500 households.

So far, around 76,000 applications have been received, with 37,500 consumers having selected vendors and 17,151 agreements signed.

A total of 13,615 systems have been installed in J&K, and Central Financial Assistance amounting to Rs 96.68 crore has been released to 11,297 beneficiaries.

Officials said the administration is also expanding the solarisation of government buildings.

Of 22,494 government buildings identified, 6716 have already been solarised, achieving a combined installed capacity of 64.67 MW.

Under the 70 MW rooftop solar project, work orders have been issued for 4338 buildings.

Material has reached 2806 sites, and 1987 sites have been fully installed.

Authorities expect an additional 5 MW of capacity to be added by November 30.

Beneficiaries said the scheme has eased their financial burden.

Irfan Ahmad of Baramulla said his monthly EMI under the scheme is Rs 1100, while his average electricity bill earlier stood at around Rs 1300.

He said the switch to rooftop solar made financial sense for his family.

At the national level, officials said the 25 lakh milestone reflects growing awareness among households about the benefits of generating electricity at home and reducing dependence on the grid.

States like Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh have contributed significantly to the uptake, aided by simplified procedures and direct subsidy transfers.

Experts said that residential rooftop solar was becoming an important component of India’s renewable energy mix, complementing large-scale solar parks.

The progress under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana underscores the expanding role of decentralised clean energy solutions in India’s transition toward sustainable and affordable power.