The PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme has achieved a significant milestone, with solar plants installed in 10.09 lakh homes across India as of March 10, 2025. Union Minister for Renewable Energy, Prahlad Joshi, shared this update on his social media platform, highlighting India’s progress in solar energy adoption.
Government’s Vision for Solar Energy
The Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme was launched on February 13, 2024, with a budget of ₹75,021 crore. The aim is to provide free electricity of up to 300 units per month to one crore households.
Additionally, households that install rooftop solar panels can earn an estimated ₹15,000 annually by selling excess electricity back to the grid. So far, over 47.3 lakh applications have been received for the scheme.
Subsidy and Cost Benefits for Homeowners
The government is offering attractive subsidies to encourage solar panel installations:
- 60% subsidy on solar plants up to 2 KW.
- 40% additional subsidy for a 3 KW plant.
For example, a 3 KW solar plant costs around ₹1.45 lakh. Under this scheme:
- The government provides a subsidy of ₹78,000.
- The remaining ₹67,000 can be financed through a low-interest bank loan, where banks can charge only 0.5% above the repo rate.
How to Apply for the Scheme?
The government has launched a National Portal for easy application. Consumers need to:
- Visit the official portal and fill in details such as:
- Consumer number
- Name and address
- Required solar plant capacity
- The DISCOM company will verify the details and approve the application.
- Consumers can choose from pre-registered vendors on the portal for installation.
- After installation, the DISCOM will install net metering to track electricity usage and supply.
Documents Required for the Application
To avail of the scheme, applicants must provide:
- Aadhar card
- Residence certificate
- Electricity bill
- Income certificate
- Mobile number
- Bank passbook
- Passport-size photo
- Ration card
How Does the Subsidy Work?
Once the solar plant is installed and net metering is set up, proof of installation is uploaded to the portal. The government then directly transfers the subsidy to the consumer’s bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
How Much Free Electricity Will You Get?
- A 1 KW solar plant generates 4-5 units per day.
- A 3 KW solar plant generates around 15 units per day, or 450 units per month.
Since the government provides 300 units of free electricity, households can use the extra power for personal consumption or sell it back to the grid, potentially earning ₹15,000 per year.
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