Boosting Solar Energy: Rs 10,000 crore allotted under Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana – Here’s how you can apply

In January this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the launch of ‘Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana’, under which the Union government aims to install rooftop solar systems in one crore houses.

In a post on X, PM Modi had wrote, “I have taken my first decision after returning from Ayodhya that our government will launch ‘Pradhan Mantri Suryoday Yojna’ with the aim to install rooftop solar systems in one crore houses.”

The scheme will not only reduce the electricity bill of the poor and the middle class but will also make India self-reliant in the energy sector, the PM had said.

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Interestingly, this is not the first time the BJP government has promoted the installation of solar power system. In 2014, the government launched the Rooftop Solar Programme with the goal of installing a cumulative capacity of 40,000 megawatts (MW) by 2022. Despite efforts, this target was not met, leading the government to extend the deadline to 2026. The Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana appears to be a renewed initiative aimed at achieving the 40 GW rooftop solar capacity target.

What was said about the ‘Suryodaya Yojana’ in the interim Budget?

During her interim Budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that through rooftop solarisation, one crore households will benefit from up to 300 units of free electricity monthly.

Detailing the advantages of the scheme, Sitharaman informed the House that households will save between Rs 15,000 to Rs 18,000 annually through free solar electricity and the possibility to sell surplus power back to distribution companies.

“There is provision of Rs 10,000 crore for rooftop solar (scheme) in the Budget,” said Finance Secretary T V Somanathan later said at a press conference.

What is India’s current solar capacity as of May?

According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s website, solar power installed capacity in India has reached around 84.28 GW as of May 31, 2024. The rooftop solar installed capacity was around 11.08 GW as of December 2023.

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How to apply for Rooftop Solar?

A consumer can avail of benefits of the scheme through DISCOM tendered projects or through the National Portal (www.solarrooftop.gov.in). Any Indian citizen can avail the benefit of this scheme.

Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Step 1

Register in the portal with the following

Select your State

Select your District

Select Electricity Distribution Company

Enter your Consumer Account Number

Enter Mobile

Step 2:

-Login with your mobile number

-Apply for the rooftop

Step 3

-Once you get the feasibility approval, get the plant installed by any of the registered vendors in your DISCOM

Step 4

-Once installation is completed, submit the plant details and apply for net meter

Step 5

-Commissioning certificate will be generated from the portal, after installation of net meter and inspection by DISCOM

Step 6

-Once you get the commissioning report. Submit the bank account details and a cancelled cheque through the portal. You will receive your subsidy in your bank account within 30 days.