Solar Rooftop Subsidy: How to Apply Under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana

The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is the Indian government's flagship scheme to promote rooftop solar panels for households. Under this scheme, eligible families can get a subsidy of ₹30,000 to ₹78,000 for installing solar panels and generate free electricity for 25+ years.

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What Is PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana?

Launched in February 2024, this scheme aims to provide free electricity to 1 crore households by subsidizing rooftop solar installations. Key highlights:

• Budget: ₹75,021 crore allocated by the central government
• Target: 1 crore households
• Benefit: Up to 300 units of free electricity per month
• Subsidy: Direct financial subsidy on installation cost
• Duration: Solar panels last 25+ years with minimal maintenance

Subsidy Amount

Subsidy structure: ₹30,000 per kW for first 2 kW + ₹18,000 per kW for 3rd kW. Maximum subsidy is ₹78,000 for 3 kW or higher systems.

How Many Units Can You Generate?

Who Is Eligible?

• Residential households only — not for commercial, industrial, or institutional use
• Must have a valid electricity connection with a DISCOM
• Roof ownership — the applicant must own the roof (individual house, society flat with permission)
• One subsidy per household — only one application per electricity consumer number
• All states/UTs — scheme available across India
• No income limit — there is no income restriction for eligibility

Documents Required

• Aadhaar card of the applicant
• Electricity bill (latest, showing consumer number)
• Bank account details (for subsidy transfer via DBT)
• Passport-size photograph
• Property ownership proof — if the applicant is not the bill holder
• Roof photograph (may be required during technical feasibility check)
• Cancelled cheque or bank passbook front page

How to Apply: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Register on PM Surya Ghar Portal

1. Visit pmsuryaghar.gov.in
2. Click "Apply for Rooftop Solar"
3. Enter your state, DISCOM, and consumer number
4. Register with your mobile number — verify via OTP
5. Fill in personal details and electricity bill information

Step 2: Wait for DISCOM Feasibility Approval

• Your DISCOM will verify your consumer details and check technical feasibility
• This takes 5-15 days
• You'll receive an SMS when your application is approved for installation

Step 3: Choose a Registered Vendor

• After approval, the portal shows a list of empanelled solar vendors in your area
• Choose a vendor based on ratings, price, and service
• The vendor will visit your home for a site survey

Step 4: Get Solar Panels Installed

• The vendor installs solar panels, inverter, and net meter
• Installation typically takes 1-3 days
• Ensure the vendor uses BIS-certified panels and equipment

Step 5: Net Meter Installation

• After solar installation, your DISCOM installs a bi-directional net meter
• This meter tracks both electricity consumed from the grid and exported to the grid
• Net meter installation takes 7-15 days after solar installation

Step 6: Apply for Subsidy on Portal

1. After installation and net meter commissioning, log in to pmsuryaghar.gov.in
2. Upload commissioning report from the vendor
3. Upload net meter photo and installation photos
4. Enter bank account details for subsidy credit

Step 7: Receive Subsidy via DBT

• DISCOM verifies the installation
• Subsidy is credited directly to your bank account within 30 days of verification
• Track subsidy status on the portal

What Is Net Metering?

Net metering allows you to:

1. Use solar power during the day — directly from your panels
2. Export excess power to the grid — your meter runs backward
3. Draw grid power at night — when solar isn't generating
4. Pay only for net consumption — (units consumed from grid) minus (units exported)

If you export more than you consume, you get credit that carries forward to the next month (in most states).

Choosing the Right System Size

Rule of thumb: 1 kW of solar panels needs about 100 sq ft of shadow-free roof area.

Collateral-Free Loans

The scheme also provides collateral-free loans at concessional interest rates:

• Available from nationalized banks and NBFCs
• Loan amount covers your share of the cost (after subsidy)
• EMI is typically less than or equal to your current electricity bill
• Loan tenure: 5-10 years

Important Tips

1. Apply on the official portal only — beware of fraud websites. The only official portal is pmsuryaghar.gov.in
2. Choose empanelled vendors — only vendors registered on the portal are eligible for the subsidy scheme
3. Get BIS-certified panels — insist on panels meeting IS 14286 and inverters meeting IS 16221 standards
4. Shadow-free roof is crucial — even partial shade significantly reduces solar output
5. Maintenance is minimal — clean panels with water every 2-4 weeks for optimal output

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a 3 kW rooftop solar system cost after subsidy?

A 3 kW system costs approximately ₹1,80,000-₹2,10,000 before subsidy. After the ₹78,000 government subsidy, your cost is approximately ₹1,02,000-₹1,32,000. This can be further reduced with a concessional loan.

Can I apply if I live in a rented house?

No. The scheme is for homeowners only. The applicant must own the property where solar panels will be installed. For society flats, you need NOC from the housing society.

Will I get zero electricity bills after installing solar?

It depends on your system size and consumption. A correctly sized system can reduce your bill to near-zero. Any excess units exported to the grid are credited to your account. However, there may be minimum fixed charges from the DISCOM.

How long do solar panels last?

Solar panels typically last 25-30 years with minimal degradation (about 0.5-0.7% per year). Most manufacturers offer a 25-year performance warranty. Inverters typically last 10-15 years.

Can I install solar panels in my apartment/flat?

Yes, but you need your housing society's permission. You can install panels on the common terrace area allocated to your flat. Some societies install a common solar plant for all members.

What happens on cloudy or rainy days?

Solar panels still generate electricity on cloudy days, though at reduced capacity (30-50% of peak output). On rainy days, generation drops further. You draw grid power automatically when solar generation is insufficient.

Is the ₹78,000 subsidy available for everyone?

The ₹78,000 is the maximum subsidy for a 3 kW or larger system. For smaller systems: 1 kW gets ₹30,000 and 2 kW gets ₹60,000. The subsidy is available to all residential consumers regardless of income.

For help with electricity bills and payments, see our bill payment guide. To increase your connection load before installing solar, check the load increase guide.