One Year of PM Surya Ghar: A Bright Milestone

The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY) marks its first anniversary on February 13, 2025, celebrating a year of promoting affordable solar energy for Indian households. Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 13, 2024, the scheme aims to install rooftop solar panels in one crore households by March 2027, reducing electricity costs and promoting sustainability. The scheme has significantly boosted India’s renewable energy sector and contributed to environmental conservation.

Key Highlights of the Scheme

• Largest Rooftop Solar Initiative: The world’s largest domestic rooftop solar scheme, aiming to benefit one crore households by 2027.
• Current Progress: As of January 27, 2025, over 8.46 lakh households have installed solar panels.
• Increased Installation Rate: Monthly installations have surged tenfold, reaching 70,000 per month.
• Financial Support: ₹4,308.66 crore in Central Financial Assistance (CFA) has been disbursed to 5.54 lakh households.
• Subsidy Benefit: Up to 40% subsidy, with an average subsidy of ₹77,800 per household.
• Zero Electricity Bills: 45% of beneficiaries now receive zero electricity bills, depending on usage.
• Top 5 States: States with the highest number of beneficiaries (data awaited).

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Key Benefits

• Free Electricity for Households – Reduced energy bills through subsidized solar panels.
• Government Savings – ₹75,000 crore saved annually in electricity costs.
• Renewable Energy Growth – Boosts solar power adoption in households.
• Reduced Carbon Emissions – Supports India’s climate goals.

Subsidy Structure

• Application Process: Households can apply via the National Portal for subsidy and vendor selection.
• Collateral-Free Loans: Loans at 7% interest for systems up to 3 kW.
• Processing Time: CFA disbursed within 15 days after consumer redemption request.

Impact of the Scheme

• Household Savings & Income: Households save on bills and can sell excess power to DISCOMs.
• Solar Capacity Expansion: The scheme will add 30 GW of rooftop solar capacity by 2027.

Environmental Impact

• 1,000 BUs of electricity generated over 25 years.
• 720 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions reduced.
• Employment Boost: 17 lakh new jobs created in installation, manufacturing, and maintenance.

Model Solar Village Initiative

• Goal: Establish one Model Solar Village per district to promote energy self-reliance.
• Funding: ₹800 crore allocated; each selected village receives ₹1 crore.
• Selection Criteria: Revenue villages with >5,000 population (or >2,000 in special category states).