Over 26 Lakh Households Benefited Under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana as of December 2025

1. At a Glance

• PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSG:MBY) is a demand-driven Central Sector scheme of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) providing Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for rooftop solar (RTS) systems to residential consumers with grid-connected DISCOM electricity [1].
• Aim: install RTS in 1 crore households by March 2027 and supply up to 300 free units/month; world's largest domestic rooftop solar initiative [2][3].
• Relevance: GS-III (Energy, Climate, Renewables); flagship scheme intersecting India's NDC/Panchamrit commitment of 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030.

2. Why in the News

• PIB release (3 Feb 2026) reported 20,85,514 RTS systems installed benefiting 26,14,446 households with ₹14,771.82 crore CFA disbursed as of December 2025 since the Feb 2024 launch [1].

3. Background & Evolution

• 13 Feb 2024: PM announced the scheme [3].
• 29 Feb 2024: Union Cabinet approved scheme with outlay ₹75,021 crore [3].
• Predecessor: Rooftop Solar Programme Phase-II (MNRE, 2019) — PMSG:MBY replaces/expands it with a household-centric CFA model.
• March 2025: scheme crossed 10 lakh installations milestone [2].
• December 2025: 26.14 lakh households benefited [1].

4. Core Static Facts

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) [1].
• Type: Central Sector Scheme, demand-driven, online via National Portal [1].
• Outlay: ₹75,021 crore [3].
• Target: 1 crore households by March 2027 [2].
• CFA structure [2]:
• 60% of cost for systems up to 2 kW.
• 40% of additional cost for capacity 2–3 kW.

• Capped at 3 kW.

• Indicative subsidy (benchmark): ₹30,000 (1 kW); ₹60,000 (2 kW); ₹78,000 (≥3 kW) [2].

• Free electricity: up to 300 units/month [3].
• Collateral-free loan for RTS at Repo + 0.50 bps = 5.75% (as cited) [2].
• Implementation: MNRE + State DISCOMs; National Portal integration with DISCOMs.

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

• Economic
• Estimated household savings ~₹15,000/year through free units + surplus sale [4].

• Reduces DISCOM subsidy burden on residential tariff; spurs domestic solar manufacturing demand.

• Environmental

• Aids the 500 GW non-fossil by 2030 target and Panchamrit pledge (COP26).

• Decentralised distributed generation → lower T&D losses; rooftop space utilisation.

• Administrative / Federal

• Centre provides CFA; DISCOMs handle net-metering, technical feasibility, grid integration → coordination bottleneck.

• National Portal centralises vendor empanelment, subsidy DBT.

• Social

• Benefits middle/lower-middle income households via upfront CFA + concessional loan reducing capex barrier.

• Model Solar Village component (1 per district) for rural diffusion [2].

• Scientific/Technological

• Catalyses domestic PV module/cell ecosystem (links with PLI for High-Efficiency Solar Modules, ALMM list).

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• 3 Feb 2026 PIB: 26.14 lakh households benefited; ₹14,771.82 cr CFA disbursed by Dec 2025 [1].
• Earlier 2025: scheme crossed 10 lakh installations [2].
• Cumulative as of 19 Mar 2026: 26,19,879 RTS systems, ₹17,967.53 cr CFA disbursed [2].
• Scheme termed world's largest domestic rooftop solar programme [2].

7. Prelims Hooks

• Launched by PM on 13 February 2024 [3].
• Cabinet outlay: ₹75,021 crore [3].
• Nodal ministry: MNRE (not Ministry of Power) [1].
• Target: 1 crore households by March 2027 [2].
• Free electricity ceiling: 300 units/month [3].
• CFA cap at 3 kW capacity [2].
• CFA pattern: 60% up to 2 kW, 40% for 2–3 kW slab [2].
• Max subsidy per household: ₹78,000 [2].
• Collateral-free loan rate: 5.75% (Repo + 0.50 bps) [2].
• As of Dec 2025: 20,85,514 systems, 26,14,446 households, ₹14,771.82 cr CFA [1].
• Includes Model Solar Village scheme — 1 per district [2].
• Applications routed via National Portal; eligibility = grid-connected residential DISCOM consumer [1].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III: Infrastructure (Energy); Environment (Climate change mitigation); Inclusive growth.
• Syllabus headings: "Infrastructure: Energy", "Conservation, environmental pollution", "Government Budgeting".
• Probable stems: 1. "Decentralised rooftop solar is the missing link in India's energy transition. Examine in light of PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana." 2. "Discuss the federal-administrative challenges in scaling rooftop solar in India." 3. "Evaluate PMSG:MBY's contribution to India's Panchamrit and 500 GW non-fossil targets."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• National Solar Mission (JNNSM, 2010) — overarching solar policy.
• Panchamrit / COP26 pledges — climate context.
• PLI for High-Efficiency Solar PV Modules — supply-side complement.
• ALMM (Approved List of Models & Manufacturers) — quality regulation.
• PM-KUSUM — solarisation of agricultural pumps (sister scheme).
• Green Energy Corridors (GEC) — transmission backbone.
• Net-metering regulations & DISCOM reforms (RDSS) — implementation enabler.
• International Solar Alliance (ISA) — multilateral linkage.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Wrong ministry: It is MNRE, not Ministry of Power or MoEFCC.
• Capacity cap: Subsidy applies only up to 3 kW; bigger systems get no extra CFA.
• Confusion with PM-KUSUM — KUSUM is for agricultural pumps, PMSG:MBY is residential rooftop.
• Free units ≠ unconditional — 300 free units linked to solar self-generation, not a blanket entitlement.
• Launch vs Cabinet date: PM announcement 13 Feb 2024; Cabinet approval 29 Feb 2024.