On February 13, 2024, Mr. Narendra Modi, Honorable Prime Minister of India launched the prestigious PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana for Indian households. This scheme is projected to provide up to 300 units of free electricity to over 1 crore households every month across the country. With an investment going beyond Rs. 75,000 crore, the plan is envisaged to level up the income standards of households, bring down their power bills, and boost job opportunities, according to the Prime Minister of India.
What does PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana mean?
According to the official social media profile handled by PM Modi, “To further sustainable development and people’s wellbeing, we are launching the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. This project, with an investment of over Rs. 75,000 crores, aims to light up 1 crore households by providing up to 300 units of free electricity every month,” He further added. To give more exposure to this scheme at the ground level, Urban Local Bodies and Panchayats are supposed to be incentivised to encourage the installation rooftop solar systems in their dominions. At the same time, the scheme will help in getting more income, reduced power bills and employment generation for folks, PM Modi said.
He also suggested that the power bills are expected to take a dip, however, it is quite ambiguous statement as to whether the additional power produced over 300 units, that is distributed by Discoms to other people, will be taken from households and if they will get compensation for the same. Under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, all residential households are eligible for subsidies on rooftop solar installations. Rooftop solar PV systems can be installed on any type of roof having sufficient load-bearing capacity. On a clear sunny day, a 1 KW solar power plant can generate 4 to 5.5 units in a day.
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How to apply for PM Surya Ghar Yojana?
First and foremost, you need to visit the concerned website – www.pmsurya.gov.in, go to “Apply for rooftop solar”. Now follow the given steps to perform the registration process.
Step 1: Register in the portal with the following
- Choose your State
- Choose your Electricity Distribution Company
- Enter your Electricity Consumer Number
- Enter Mobile Number
- Enter Email
- Please follow as per the direction from the portal
Step 2: Login and Apply
- Login with Consumer Number & Registered Mobile Number
- Apply for the Rooftop Solar according to the form
Step 3: Now, you need to wait for the feasibility endorsement from DISCOM. After you receive the feasibility approval, you can choose to install the solar power plant by any of the authorized vendors in your DISCOM.
Step 4: Once installation is done, submit the plant details and apply for net meter
Step 5: After installation of net meter and verification by DISCOM, the respective authority will generate commissioning certificate from portal
Step 6: After the receipt of the commissioning report, just submit the bank account details along with a cancelled cheque through the portal. You will receive your subsidy in your bank account within 30 days.
The Finance Minister of India, Mrs. Nirmala Sitharaman also highlighted this scheme in his Budget 2024 speech. She said, “Through rooftop solarization, one crore households will be enabled to obtain up to 300 units free electricity every month. This scheme follows the resolve of Hon’ble Prime Minister on the historic day of consecration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.”
She mentioned the following benefits of this scheme:
- Savings up to fifteen to eighteen thousand rupees every year for households from free solar electricity and selling the surplus to the discoms;
- Electrical vehicles charging;
- Entrepreneurship occasions for numerous vendors for supply and installation;
- Employment opportunities for the youth with technical skills in manufacturing, installation and maintenance
PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana: Subsidy for residential households
In the case of solar panels with capacities up to 2 kW, households can seek to get a subsidy of Rs. 30,000 per kilowatt, and Rs 18,000 per kW for extra capacity up to 3 kW. For bigger panel with capacity exceeding 3 kW, the total subsidy is restricted at Rs 78,000. The most appropriate rooftop solar plant capacity differs given the average monthly electricity feasting of households. For instance, households consuming 0 to 150 units per month should install 1 to 2 kW systems, with subsidies varying between Rs. 30,000 and Rs. 60,000. Likewise, households taking up between 150 and 300 units per month can go with 2 to 3 kW systems and get subsidies from Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 78,000. For households using over 300 units per month, systems more than 3 kW with a subsidy of Rs. 78,000 are suggested.
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- Rs 30,000/- per kW up to 2 kW
- Rs 18,000/- per kW for extra capacity up to 3 kW
- Total Subsidy for systems bigger than 3 kW capped at Rs 78,000
| Average Monthly Electricity Consumption (units)
| Suitable Rooftop Solar Plant Capacity
| Subsidy Support
|
| 0-150
| 1 – 2 kW
| Rs 30,000 to Rs 60,000/-
|
| 150-300
| 2 – 3 kW
| Rs 60,000 to Rs 78,000/-
|
| >300
| Above 3 kW
| Rs 78,000/- |
The Conclusion
The most coveted PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is a flagship scheme by our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi to enable sustainable development and people’s wellbeing. Carrying a whopping investment of Rs. 75000 crore, the scheme aims to light up 1 crore households by providing free-of-cost 300 units electricity every month. Under the scheme, Indian households will be given a subsidy for the installation of solar panels on their roofs. The subsidy will cover up to 40% of the overall expenses of the solar panels.