PM Surya Ghar: Fast Overview Dashboard
1. The PM Surya Ghar Statutory Charter: Decarbonizing India's Residential Power Grid
Approved by the Union Cabinet with an unprecedented budgetary allocation of ₹75,021 crore, the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, implemented by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), is India's most ambitious household energy program. Designed to transform 1 crore residential households into independent solar power producers, the scheme aims to save consumers an estimated ₹75,000 crore annually in electricity bills while reducing carbon emissions by 720 million tonnes over 25 years.
Prior rooftop solar programs suffered from cumbersome physical paperwork, DISCOM resistance, and delays in subsidy disbursement. PM Surya Ghar eliminates these bottlenecks through a single unified National Portal (pmsuryaghar.gov.in). The entire lifecycle—from feasibility application, vendor selection, net-meter installation, and direct benefit transfer (DBT) credit—is digitized with strict time-bound SLAs.
In states like West Bengal, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu, where residential tariff slabs escalate sharply with consumption, installing a 2 kW or 3 kW solar plant permanently brings net electric utility expenses to near-zero. To evaluate whether your household income and property qualify across multiple public energy and housing schemes, explore our interactive Welfare Eligibility Assessment Engine.
2. Central Subsidy Matrix: Cost Breakdown & Sizing Calculator
The Central Financial Assistance (CFA) is disbursed directly into the beneficiary's bank account based on the registered system capacity:
| Solar Plant Capacity | Required Roof Space | Average System Cost | Central DBT Subsidy | Net Cost to Consumer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 kW Solar System | ~ 100 Sq. Ft. | ₹50,000 – ₹55,000 | ₹30,000 Flat | ₹20,000 – ₹25,000 |
| 2 kW Solar System | ~ 200 Sq. Ft. | ₹1,00,000 – ₹1,10,000 | ₹60,000 Flat | ₹40,000 – ₹50,000 |
| 3 kW Solar System | ~ 300 Sq. Ft. | ₹1,45,000 – ₹1,60,000 | ₹78,000 Capped | ₹67,000 – ₹82,000 |
| Above 3 kW Systems | 300+ Sq. Ft. | Varies by scale | ₹78,000 Max Cap | Balance borne by consumer |
| Group Housing (GHS / RWA) | Common Roof Space | Up to 500 kW capacity | ₹18,000 / kW | Shared across society members |
- Monthly Bill < ₹1,000 (Up to 150 units): A 1 kW system is sufficient to meet your household electrical consumption.
- Monthly Bill ₹1,000 – ₹2,500 (150 to 300 units): A 2 kW system generates ~240-280 units/month, eliminating recurring electric bills.
- Monthly Bill > ₹2,500 (300+ units, ACs, refrigerators): A 3 kW system maximizes your financial returns, drawing the full ₹78,000 central subsidy.
3. Concessional Financing: Collateral-Free Loans at ~7.0% Interest
To ensure that upfront capital requirements do not deter middle-class and lower-income families, the Central Government created a specialized green credit window under the Jan Samarth Portal (jansamarth.in):
Key Loan Parameters:
- Subsidized Interest Rate: Pegged at the prevailing RBI Repo Rate + 0.5% (currently approximately 7.0% per annum), which is lower than personal loans (12%-18%) or traditional consumer durable loans.
- Maximum Loan Amount: Up to ₹2,00,000 for installations up to 3 kW capacity.
- Low Margin Money: The consumer contributes only 10% of the net project cost; the bank finances the remaining 90%.
- Tenure & Repayment: Repayment period up to 10 years (120 months) with zero prepayment penalties.
- Self-Liquidating Loan: The monthly electricity savings (typically ₹2,000 to ₹3,500 per month) exceed the monthly loan EMI (around ₹1,200 to ₹1,800), meaning the solar installation pays for itself from Month 1!
4. The Bi-Directional Net-Metering Mechanism Explained
A grid-tied rooftop solar system does not require expensive battery banks that require recurring replacements every 3–5 years. Instead, it relies on a statutory Bi-Directional Net-Meter installed by your local power DISCOM (e.g., WBSEDCL / CESC in West Bengal, MSEDCL in Maharashtra, TANGEDCO in Tamil Nadu):
Daytime Generation & Export
During daylight hours, solar panels generate DC power converted to AC by the on-grid inverter. Household appliances consume solar power first. Any excess electricity is automatically pushed into the public DISCOM grid, running your net-meter backwards.
Nighttime Import & Billing Offset
At night, when solar generation is zero, your home draws power seamlessly from the DISCOM grid. At the end of each billing cycle, your bill is calculated only on the Net Energy (Total Units Imported minus Total Units Exported).
5. Step-by-Step Online Application Walkthrough on pmsuryaghar.gov.in
Follow this verified 6-step walkthrough to apply, install, and claim your central subsidy:
Consumer Registration on pmsuryaghar.gov.in
Visit the official portal at pmsuryaghar.gov.in. Select your State, District, and local Electricity Distribution Company (DISCOM). Enter your Consumer Account Number (CA number) from your recent electricity bill and verify via mobile OTP.
Submit Technical Feasibility Application
Log in with your registered mobile number. Fill in your existing sanctioned electrical load, proposed solar capacity (1 kW to 3 kW), and upload a clear PDF/image of your latest electricity bill. Submit for Technical Feasibility Approval (TFA).
Select Empanelled Vendor & Sign Model Agreement
Once TFA is granted by your DISCOM, browse the list of registered empanelled vendors on the portal. Sign the standardized model agreement specifying ALMM-compliant DCR solar panels, grid-tied inverter specifications, and 5-year comprehensive maintenance warranty.
Installation & Work Completion Submission
The vendor completes physical installation of panels, mounting structure, lightning arrester, earthing rods, and AC/DC distribution boxes. The vendor submits installation photographs and module serial numbers on the portal.
Net-Meter Installation & Commissioning Certificate
DISCOM technical staff inspect the plant and install the bi-directional net-meter. The DISCOM issues an online Commissioning Certificate on the National Portal.
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Subsidy Disbursement
Upload your bank passbook/canceled cheque copy on the portal. Within 30 days of certificate generation, the central subsidy (₹30,000 for 1kW, ₹60,000 for 2kW, or ₹78,000 for 3kW) is credited directly into your bank account via PFMS DBT.
6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the subsidy amount under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana in 2026?
For residential rooftop solar plants, the Government of India provides a direct central financial assistance (CFA) subsidy of ₹30,000 for a 1 kW system, ₹60,000 for a 2 kW system, and a maximum capped subsidy of ₹78,000 for systems of 3 kW or higher capacity. The subsidy is credited directly via PFMS DBT into the consumer's bank account within 30 days of net-meter commissioning.
How does PM Surya Ghar deliver 300 units of free electricity every month?
A standard 3 kW rooftop solar power system generates approximately 360 to 420 kilowatt-hours (units) of clean electricity per month in typical Indian weather conditions. Through bi-directional net-metering, solar power generated during peak sunshine feeds into the household grid and surplus power is exported to the local DISCOM, bringing household net electricity bills down to zero for up to 300 monthly units.
Are concessional bank loans available for installing rooftop solar?
Yes. Beneficiaries can secure collateral-free solar loans up to ₹2,00,000 through public sector banks on the Jan Samarth portal (jansamarth.in) at a subsidized interest rate of approximately 7.0% per annum (Repo Rate + 0.5%). The margin money requirement is only 10%, and monthly loan EMIs are easily offset by electricity bill savings.
Can residents of housing societies (RWAs / GHS) claim solar subsidies?
Yes. Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and Group Housing Societies (GHS) can claim a central subsidy of ₹18,000 per kW for rooftop solar installations up to a cumulative capacity of 500 kW for powering common utilities, including water booster pumps, elevators, parking area lighting, and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
What are the roof space requirements for a 1 kW to 3 kW solar plant?
As a rule of thumb, each 1 kW of rooftop solar installation requires approximately 100 square feet (around 10 square meters) of shadow-free, south-facing rooftop area. Thus, a 2 kW system needs 200 sq. ft., while a 3 kW system requires roughly 300 sq. ft. of clear roof space.
PM Surya Ghar Official Helpdesk & Grievance Redressal
For technical queries, DISCOM net-metering delays, or subsidy tracking assistance:
Toll-Free: 15555 / 1800-180-3333
Portal: pmsuryaghar.gov.in
Email: support-pmsuryaghar@gov.in
Jan Samarth Solar Loan Portal: jansamarth.in