New Delhi, June 05: India’s flagship rooftop solar programme, PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, has crossed the milestone of 40 lakh beneficiary households and is on track to reach more than 75 lakh households by December 2026, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi announced on Thursday.
Speaking at the event titled “Two Years of PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana: Scaling the Solar Home to One Crore Rooftops,” the minister highlighted the rapid growth of rooftop solar adoption and the scheme’s contribution to India’s clean energy transition.
Over 65 Lakh Applications Received
According to Joshi, public participation in the scheme has surged significantly, with more than 65 lakh applications already received from households across the country.
The government has also planned around 30 lakh rooftop solar installations across various states, with power utilities playing a key role in accelerating implementation through the Utility-Linked Aggregation (ULA) model.
The model is designed to simplify installations and improve access to rooftop solar systems, particularly among underserved households.
Rooftop Solar Adoption Accelerates
The minister noted that India’s solar expansion has gained remarkable momentum over the past few years.
He highlighted the pace of capacity addition:
- First 50 GW of solar capacity took 96 months.
- The next 50 GW was added in 36 months.
- Expansion from 100 GW to 150 GW took only 14 months.
India’s total installed solar capacity crossed 150 GW as of March 2026, reflecting the country’s growing investment in renewable energy infrastructure.
Record Rooftop Solar Installations in May 2026
May 2026 emerged as the strongest month since the scheme’s launch.
According to the minister:
- A record 3.16 lakh rooftop solar installations were completed in a single month.
- Around 15,000 households were added in just one day.
- The time required to add one lakh beneficiary households has fallen dramatically from 118 days to less than eight days.
The figures underscore the rapid acceleration in rooftop solar deployment under the programme.
Subsidies Worth Rs 22,750 Crore Disbursed
The government has disbursed more than Rs 22,750 crore in subsidies under the scheme so far.
Of this amount:
- Rs 2,743 crore was disbursed in May 2026 alone.
Officials said the subsidy support has played a crucial role in making rooftop solar installations affordable for households and accelerating adoption nationwide.
More Than 17 Lakh Families Achieve Zero Electricity Bills
One of the key outcomes of the programme has been a substantial reduction in household electricity expenses.
According to Joshi:
- More than 17 lakh households have already achieved zero electricity bills through rooftop solar generation.
The initiative primarily benefits families consuming between 1 kW and 3 kW of electricity, enabling them to generate clean power and reduce dependence on conventional grid electricity.
Scheme Strengthens India’s Energy Security
The minister said the programme is helping strengthen India’s energy resilience at a time when global energy markets are facing uncertainty due to geopolitical developments, including the ongoing West Asia crisis.
He noted that increasing domestic renewable energy generation enhances energy security while reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Future Expansion to Include Battery Storage
Looking ahead, the government plans to integrate Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) into the programme as storage technology becomes more affordable.
Officials also intend to expand rooftop solar adoption through the Model Solar Village initiative, which aims to create solar-powered communities across rural India.
World’s Largest Residential Rooftop Solar Programme
Launched on February 13, 2024, with a total outlay of Rs 75,021 crore, PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana has emerged as the world’s largest residential rooftop solar programme.
Key achievements include:
- Over 40 lakh beneficiary households.
- More than 65 lakh applications received.
- Nearly 45% share of residential solar capacity from rooftop installations.
- 85% growth in deployment during 2024–2026.
- Contribution toward India’s target of 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.
The scheme is also helping reduce subsidy burdens on power distribution companies (DISCOMs) while improving access to affordable clean energy.
PM Surya Ghar Logo and WhatsApp Bot Launched
During the event, Joshi also launched the official PM Surya Ghar logo and a dedicated WhatsApp chatbot to improve citizen engagement and access to scheme-related information.
Awards were presented to top-performing states, Union Territories, DISCOMs, banks, vendors, and stakeholders for their contributions to the programme’s success.
Key Highlights
- PM Surya Ghar Yojana crosses 40 lakh beneficiary households.
- Government targets 75 lakh households by December 2026.
- More than 65 lakh applications received nationwide.
- 3.16 lakh rooftop solar installations completed in May 2026.
- Over Rs 22,750 crore in subsidies disbursed.
- More than 17 lakh households now have zero electricity bills.
- India’s solar capacity exceeds 150 GW.
- Battery storage integration planned in future phases.
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