UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Rooftop solar: govt. planning incentive scheme for States

Question 1

The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana is operationalised at the Union level by which one of the following ministries?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy

Answer

Ministry of Power

Answer

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

Answer

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Question 2

With reference to the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, consider the following statements:
1. It has a Cabinet-approved total outlay of ₹75,021 crore.
2. It targets rooftop solar installation in one crore households by FY 2026-27.
3. Beneficiary households can receive up to 300 units of free electricity per month.
4. The scheme provides free electricity to every household in the country, irrespective of whether the household installs a rooftop solar system.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

4 only

Answer

1 and 2

Answer

3 and 4

Answer

2 and 3

Question 3

Consider the following pairings under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana:
1. RESCO model — a third-party company invests in the rooftop system and the consumer pays only for the electricity consumed.
2. Utility-Led Aggregation model — DISCOMs or State-designated entities install rooftop solar on behalf of households.
3. Payment Security Mechanism — a ₹100 crore corpus fund to de-risk investments in RESCO-based residential rooftop solar.
4. Central Financial Assistance — no household ever receives any direct financial subsidy under any component of the scheme.
Which of the above pairings is/are NOT correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

4 only

Answer

1 only

Answer

2 and 3

Answer

1 and 4

Question 4

With reference to the implementation models under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, consider the following statements:
1. Under the RESCO model, a third-party service company owns/invests in the rooftop system.
2. Under the Utility-Led Aggregation model, DISCOMs or State-designated entities carry out the installation.
3. The Payment Security Mechanism has a corpus of ₹500 crore.
4. Both the RESCO and ULA models are aimed at households unable to bear the upfront cost of direct installation.
Which of the statements given above is/are correctly identified?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 4

Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

3 and 4 only

Answer

1, 2, 3 and 4

Question 5

Under the fresh incentive scheme for States being planned by the MNRE (as reported in 2026), which implementation model is being promoted as the lead vehicle to cover about 30 lakh households that cannot afford or lack suitable rooftops for solar?

Accepted Answer

The Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) model

Answer

The Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model

Answer

The direct-subsidy self-installation (CFA) model

Answer

The Model Solar Village model

Question 6

With reference to the Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) model compared with the direct-subsidy model under PM Surya Ghar, consider the following statements:
1. Unlike the direct-subsidy model where the household bears the upfront cost, under the ULA model the DISCOM funds the installation for eligible households.
2. The MNRE is planning a fresh incentive scheme for States specifically to improve the poor uptake of the ULA model.
3. Under the ULA model, the Central Financial Assistance is transferred directly to the individual household rather than to the utility.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

1 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 7

Regarding the administrative machinery of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, consider the following statements:
1. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is the nodal ministry, while DISCOMs handle net-metering and inspection at the distribution level.
2. The commissioning certificate is generated on the national portal only after installation of a net meter and inspection by the DISCOM.
3. The Ministry of Power, and not the MNRE, administers the Central Financial Assistance under the scheme.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

1 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 8

In the context of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, the term 'Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA)' model most precisely refers to:

Accepted Answer

A model in which State DISCOMs or State-designated entities install and fund rooftop solar systems on behalf of residential households.

Answer

A model in which a third-party company owns the rooftop system and sells the generated power to the household.

Answer

A model in which several households pool their individual subsidies to procure solar panels in bulk.

Answer

A model in which the Centre aggregates State-wise demand and centrally procures all solar panels.

Question 9

India has committed to achieving how much non-fossil-fuel-based electricity installed capacity by the year 2030?

Accepted Answer

500 GW

Answer

175 GW

Answer

450 GW

Answer

750 GW

Question 10

With reference to India's solar energy policy landscape, consider the following statements:
1. The National Solar Mission was launched in 2010.
2. India aims for 500 GW of non-fossil-fuel-based installed electricity capacity by 2030.
3. The Rooftop Solar Programme Phase-II set a target of 100 GW of rooftop solar capacity.
4. PM Surya Ghar targets rooftop solar in one crore households by FY 2026-27.
Which of the statements given above is/are correctly identified?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 4

Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2, 3 and 4 only

Answer

1, 2, 3 and 4

Question 11

With reference to eligibility and benefit disbursement under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, consider the following statements:
1. The applicant must be an Indian citizen owning a house with a roof suitable for solar panels.
2. The household must have a valid electricity connection.
3. The subsidy is credited to the beneficiary's bank account via Direct Benefit Transfer within 30 days of submitting bank details.
4. Only households below the poverty line (BPL) are eligible to apply under the scheme.
Which of the statements given above is/are correctly identified?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 3

Answer

1 and 4

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2, 3 and 4

Question 12

The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, under which about 26 lakh rooftop solar installations had been completed with around ₹17,967 crore of support disbursed, was launched in which year?

Accepted Answer

2024

Answer

2022

Answer

2020

Answer

2019

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Rooftop solar: govt. planning incentive scheme for States

Q1. The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana is operationalised at the Union level by which one of the following ministries?

Q5. Under the fresh incentive scheme for States being planned by the MNRE (as reported in 2026), which implementation model is being promoted as the lead vehicle to cover about 30 lakh households that cannot afford or lack suitable rooftops for solar?

Q8. In the context of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, the term 'Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA)' model most precisely refers to:

Q9. India has committed to achieving how much non-fossil-fuel-based electricity installed capacity by the year 2030?

Q12. The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, under which about 26 lakh rooftop solar installations had been completed with around ₹17,967 crore of support disbursed, was launched in which year?