PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana 2026: Complete Guide to Central + State Solar Subsidies
What Is PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana?
PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY) is the Government of India’s flagship rooftop solar scheme, launched on 13 February 2024 under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) with a total outlay of ₹75,021 crore. The goal: put grid-connected rooftop solar on one crore (10 million) households, cut electricity bills, and give qualifying families up to 300 units of free electricity every month.
By early-to-mid 2026, the scheme had crossed over 26 lakh households benefited and more than ₹14,770 crore disbursed as Central Financial Assistance (CFA), making it the world’s largest residential rooftop solar programme.
This guide covers the central subsidy structure, state-by-state top-ups, eligibility, documents, the application process, and common mistakes that delay payouts.
Central Government Subsidy: How Much You Get
The Central Financial Assistance is the same for every Indian household, regardless of state, and is paid directly to your Aadhaar-linked bank account via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) — no DISCOM or vendor sits in between.
| System Size | Subsidy Rate | Total Central Subsidy |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1 kW | ₹30,000/kW | ₹30,000 |
| Up to 2 kW | ₹30,000/kW | ₹60,000 |
| 2–3 kW (additional kW) | ₹18,000/kW | Up to ₹78,000 |
| 3 kW and above | Capped | ₹78,000 (maximum) |
Key points:
- The ₹78,000 cap applies even to 5 kW or 10 kW systems — there’s no extra central subsidy beyond 3 kW.
- For Group Housing Societies/RWAs, the subsidy is ₹18,000/kW for common-area installations, capped at 500 kW.
- Subsidy is calculated on whichever is lower: module capacity or inverter capacity.
- Panels must be ALMM (Approved List of Models and Manufacturers) listed — non-compliant panels forfeit the subsidy entirely.
- From mid-2026 only ALMM List-II modules qualify, so confirm this with your installer before signing.
State-Wise Additional Subsidies (Top-Ups Over the Central Amount)
This is where many applicants leave money on the table. Several states layer their own incentive on top of the ₹78,000 central subsidy. Amounts are revised periodically and depend on state budget availability, so always verify the latest figure with your state nodal agency before finalizing a vendor.
The table below shows the central subsidy (fixed everywhere at ₹78,000 for a 3 kW system), the reported additional state top-up, and an indicative combined total for a standard 3 kW residential system — the most common size for urban Indian homes.
| State / UT | Central Subsidy (3 kW) | Additional State Subsidy (Reported) | Indicative Combined Total (3 kW) | Nodal Agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gujarat | ₹78,000 | ₹10,000/kW, up to ₹20,000 | ~₹98,000–₹1,08,000 | GEDA / Surya Gujarat |
| Delhi | ₹78,000 | Generation-based incentive ~₹2–3/unit exported for 5 years (not a flat capital add-on) | ₹78,000 + ongoing per-unit credit | Delhi Solar Portal / BSES/TPDDL |
| Uttar Pradesh | ₹78,000 | Reported up to ₹15,000/kW (max ~₹30,000) | ~₹1,00,000–₹1,08,000 | UPNEDA |
| Rajasthan | ₹78,000 | Select-category top-ups reported historically; no uniform 2026 state cash top-up confirmed | ~₹78,000 (verify locally) | RRECL |
| Haryana | ₹78,000 | No general state cash subsidy in 2026; ₹25,000/kW reported for select low-income categories | ~₹78,000 (general) / higher for eligible low-income households | HAREDA |
| Telangana | ₹78,000 | Reported up to ₹10,000/kW (max ~₹30,000) | ~₹1,00,000–₹1,08,000 | TGREDCO |
| Madhya Pradesh | ₹78,000 | Solar promoted via PM-KUSUM linkage; rooftop top-up not uniformly confirmed | ~₹78,000 (verify locally) | MPUVNL |
| Bihar | ₹78,000 | Reported ~25–40% of installation cost in some state programs | Potentially higher; verify exact % | BREDA |
| Jharkhand | ₹78,000 | Reported 60–80% support for low-income/BPL households (targeted) | Significantly higher for eligible categories | JREDA |
| Assam | ₹78,000 | Combined central + state reported around ₹1.3 lakh for a 3 kW system; NE states get higher central assistance | ~₹1,30,000 | APDCL / state agency |
| Chhattisgarh | ₹78,000 | Reported ₹15,000–₹30,000 | ~₹93,000–₹1,08,000 | CREDA |
| Goa | ₹78,000 | Reported up to 10% of benchmark cost | ~₹85,000–₹95,000 | Goa Electricity Dept |
| Odisha | ₹78,000 | Listed among “high support” states with extra incentives; exact slab not uniformly confirmed | Verify locally | OREDA |
| Karnataka | ₹78,000 | No direct capital top-up; BESCOM offers fast net-metering approval; separate Gruha Jyoti free-power scheme (not a capital subsidy) | ~₹78,000 | KREDL / BESCOM |
| Tamil Nadu | ₹78,000 | State-level incentives limited; group/virtual net metering available | ~₹78,000 | TANGEDCO / TEDA |
| Kerala | ₹78,000 | Application/registration fees waived under PM Surya Ghar; no major capital top-up confirmed | ~₹78,000 (lower effective cost via fee waivers) | ANERT |
| Maharashtra | ₹78,000 | “SMART Solar” scheme reportedly offers an extra ~40% for low-consumption/BPL/SC-ST households; general households get central only | ~₹78,000 (general) / higher for eligible low-income households | MEDA / MSEDCL |
| Punjab | ₹78,000 | No major separate state cash top-up confirmed; strong net metering via PSPCL | ~₹78,000 | PEDA |
| Andhra Pradesh | ₹78,000 | Central subsidy is primary support | ~₹78,000 | NREDCAP |
| Uttarakhand | ₹78,000 | Reported among states offering ₹5,000–₹15,000/kW top-up | ~₹93,000–₹1,08,000 | UREDA |
| Himachal Pradesh | ₹78,000 | No major confirmed top-up; lags in adoption due to ecosystem gaps, not policy | ~₹78,000 | HIMURJA |
| Jammu & Kashmir | ₹78,000 | Reported ~₹3,000/kW additional | ~₹87,000 | JAKEDA |
| Ladakh | ₹78,000 | Reported up to ₹20,000/kWp — among the highest in India (cold/remote-region incentive) | ~₹1,38,000 | UT Administration |
| Puducherry | ₹78,000 | Reported ~₹9,000/kW additional | ~₹1,05,000 | Local nodal agency |
| Chandigarh | ₹78,000 | No confirmed separate top-up; strong government-building solar push | ~₹78,000 | CREST |
| Other NE states/UTs (Sikkim, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh) | ₹78,000 | NE states qualify for higher central assistance slabs in several MNRE schemes; state-specific top-ups vary and are often time-bound | Verify locally — can be meaningfully higher than ₹78,000 | State renewable energy agency |
Important caveats:
- The central subsidy of ₹78,000 for a 3 kW system is fixed and confirmed nationwide under PM Surya Ghar. The state top-up figures above are reported/indicative, compiled from multiple secondary sources — they are not all independently verifiable against a single official document, change with annual state budgets, and are sometimes campaign-specific or restricted to certain categories (BPL, SC/ST, low-consumption households, or first-come-first-served quotas).
- “Indicative Combined Total” is a planning estimate, not a guarantee. Before committing to a vendor or loan, confirm the current state top-up directly with your state renewable energy agency (listed in the table) or your DISCOM, and check the PM Surya Ghar portal for any state-scheme notices.
- Net metering rules (settlement period, export tariff) vary by state and significantly affect your real payback period even where there’s no separate cash top-up — so a state with “central subsidy only” can still be very cost-effective if DISCOM processing and net metering terms are favourable (e.g., Karnataka, Gujarat).
Who Is Eligible?
You qualify for PM Surya Ghar if you:
- Are an Indian citizen and own the residential property (or have the owner’s documented consent)
- Have a valid, grid-connected electricity connection from your local DISCOM, registered as a residential/domestic consumer
- Have adequate shadow-free rooftop area (roughly 10 sq. m. per kW) suitable for panel installation
- Have a DISCOM account with no major outstanding dues
Not eligible: commercial and agricultural consumers, and tenants without ownership rights (joint ownership is fine).
Flat owners in apartments cannot apply individually since the rooftop is common property — housing societies/RWAs must apply collectively for shared installations up to 500 kW.
Documents Required
- Aadhaar card
- Electricity bill / consumer number (DISCOM account)
- Bank account details + cancelled cheque (Aadhaar-linked, for DBT)
- Proof of property ownership/address
- Passport-size photograph
- Mobile number and email for OTP verification
Tip: Ensure your name matches exactly across Aadhaar and your bank account — a mismatch (e.g., “R. Kumar” vs. “Ramesh Kumar”) is one of the most common reasons DBT subsidy payments fail.
How to Apply: Step-by-Step
- Register on the National Portal — Visit pmsuryaghar.gov.in, register using your mobile number, state, district, DISCOM, and consumer/account number.
- Verify with OTP and log in to the consumer dashboard.
- Apply for rooftop solar, specify your desired system capacity based on actual monthly consumption (not to “maximise” the subsidy).
- Receive feasibility approval from your DISCOM.
- Choose an empanelled vendor from the district-level list shown on the portal — using a non-empanelled installer forfeits your subsidy regardless of installation quality.
- Installation is carried out by the vendor.
- Apply for net metering within 30 days of installation — delays here hold up commissioning.
- DISCOM inspection and issuance of the commissioning certificate.
- Submit bank details + cancelled cheque on the portal.
- Subsidy is credited via DBT — official benchmark is 30 working days from commissioning, though in slower states it can take 3–5 months. You can track status anytime on the portal using your reference number.
Free Electricity & Extra Income
- Households can generate up to 300 units of free electricity per month, depending on system size and consumption pattern.
- With net metering, surplus electricity exported to the grid is credited, and some estimates suggest households can earn roughly ₹17,000–18,000 a year from selling excess power, depending on local tariffs and DISCOM rates.
Loans If You Need Financing
Since the subsidy is disbursed only after commissioning, you need to fund the installation upfront. The scheme supports this via:
- Collateral-free solar loans up to ₹2 lakh through 12 Public Sector Banks (SBI, Bank of Baroda, etc.) via the JanSamarth portal, at subsidised interest rates (around 7%, per scheme guidelines — confirm current rate with your bank)
- Home-loan top-ups and NBFC financing as alternatives
Common Mistakes That Delay or Forfeit the Subsidy
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Using a non-empanelled installer | Always pick from the portal’s official vendor list |
| Installing non-ALMM panels | Verify the panel model on mnre.gov.in before installation |
| Aadhaar–bank name mismatch | Match names exactly across both documents |
| Missing DISCOM inspection appointments | Repeated no-shows can get the application cancelled |
| Late net-metering application | File within 30 days of installation |
| Expecting subsidy beyond ₹78,000 | The cap is fixed regardless of system size beyond 3 kW |
If your subsidy hasn’t arrived 90 days after commissioning, escalate in this order: written complaint to your DISCOM’s consumer grievance cell → MNRE helpline 1800-180-3333 → state nodal agency → CPGRAMS.
Quick FAQ
Is PM Surya Ghar Yojana still active in 2026? Yes, the scheme runs through FY 2026–27 with applications open on the official portal.
What is the maximum subsidy I can get? ₹78,000 from the central government for a 3 kW (or larger) system, plus a possible state top-up depending on where you live.
Can vendors apply on my behalf? No — only the consumer can register and apply through the national portal.
Are commercial or agricultural consumers eligible? No, the residential subsidy is limited to domestic consumers and housing societies/RWAs.
How long does the subsidy take to arrive? Officially 30 working days post-commissioning; in practice, 6–8 weeks in faster states (Gujarat, Punjab) and 3–5 months in slower-processing states.
Final Word
The central ₹78,000 subsidy alone typically covers 40–50% of a standard 3 kW rooftop system, and stacking it with an applicable state top-up can push that closer to 50–70% in states like Gujarat or Delhi. Because state schemes change with budgets and policy cycles, your best move is: confirm the current state incentive with your local renewable energy agency or DISCOM, pick an empanelled, ALMM-compliant vendor, size the system to your actual consumption, and apply directly through pmsuryaghar.gov.in.
- PM Surya Ghar Solar Subsidy
- PM Surya Ghar Apply Online
- Rooftop Solar Subsidy
- Solar Panel Subsidy 2026
- PM Surya Ghar Registration