Over 48 Lakh Households Benefit Under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana Since February 2024

1. At a Glance

• PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSG: MBY) is the world's largest domestic rooftop solar (RTS) scheme, aiming to give households "free electricity" via subsidised rooftop solar installations [1].
• Since launch (Feb 2024), 48,02,717 households have benefited via 39,72,447 RTS installations [1].
• Demand-driven, portal-based scheme (www.pmsuryaghar.gov.in) open to all grid-connected residential consumers, including rural households [1].
• High UPSC relevance: intersects renewable energy targets, fiscal subsidy design, DISCOM/federal implementation, and climate commitments (GS-II/III).

2. Why in the News

• PIB release dated 28 July 2026 reports cumulative achievement: over 48 lakh households benefited since February 2024 launch [1].
• During FY 2025-26, 18.71 lakh RTS systems installed, adding 6.7 GW cumulative installed solar capacity, benefiting 22.71 lakh households [1].

3. Background & Evolution

• Launched: 15 February 2024 by PM Narendra Modi [2].
• Cabinet approval: Scheme approved with outlay of Rs 75,021 crore for installing rooftop solar in one crore households [3][4].
• Milestones:
• Feb 2024 — Scheme launched [2].
• Aug 2024 — Progress review press notes on solar power/energy access [5].
• March 2025 — Crossed 10 lakh installations milestone (10.09 lakh as of 10 March 2025) [6][3].
• Feb 2025 — Scheme "Turns One" review [7].
• FY 2025-26 — 18.71 lakh additional installations, 6.7 GW added [1].

• 28 July 2026 — Cumulative 39,72,447 installations / 48,02,717 households benefited [1].

• Related earlier schemes: Grid-connected Rooftop Solar Programme (Phase-II) which PMSG:MBY builds upon and expands with direct household subsidy/free electricity framing.

4. Core Static Facts

Parameter	Detail
Full name	PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana [1]
Launch date	15 February 2024 [2]
Implementing ministry	Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) [1]
Target	1 crore households with rooftop solar by March 2027 [3]
Total outlay	Rs 75,021 crore (Cabinet-approved) [4]
Subsidy structure	60% subsidy on unit cost up to 2 kW; 40% for 2-3 kW additional capacity [3]
Subsidy amounts	Rs 30,000 (1 kW), Rs 60,000 (2 kW), Rs 78,000 (3 kW or more) [3]
Loan facility	Collateral-free loans via 12 Public Sector Banks at 6.75% subsidised interest, up to Rs 2 lakh [3]
Projected capacity addition	30 GW rooftop solar in residential sector [2]
Projected electricity generation	1000 BUs over 25-year system lifetime [2]
Projected CO2 reduction	720 million tonnes over 25 years [2]
Projected annual govt savings	Rs 75,000 crore in electricity costs [2]
Application portal	www.pmsuryaghar.gov.in (National Portal) [1]
Eligibility	All grid-connected residential consumers with local DISCOM connection, including rural households [1]
Cumulative achievement (as of 28 Jul 2026)	39,72,447 RTS systems installed; 48,02,717 households benefited [1]
FY 2025-26 performance	18.71 lakh RTS installed; 6.7 GW capacity added; 22.71 lakh households benefited [1]

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic

• Direct household savings via reduced/zero electricity bills — over 7.7 lakh households reported zero bills in an earlier PIB update [8].
• Projected Rs 75,000 crore/year savings for government exchequer on power procurement [2].
• Creates demand for domestic solar module manufacturing, linking with PLI/Make in India for solar cells.

Environmental

• Targets 30 GW rooftop solar capacity, contributing to India's overall renewable energy and Panchamrit/NDC targets [2].
• Estimated CO2 abatement of 720 million tonnes over 25-year system life [2].

Administrative

• Demand-driven, application-based model routed through DISCOMs and the national portal — success depends on DISCOM readiness for net-metering and grid integration [1].
• Loan/subsidy disbursement mechanism through 12 PSU banks tests financial inclusion architecture [3].

Social

• Explicitly includes rural households as eligible beneficiaries, extending energy access equity beyond urban rooftops [1].
• "Muft Bijli" (free electricity) framing targets household energy cost burden relief for low/middle income consumers.

Scientific/Technological

• Involves rooftop solar PV technology deployment at scale, net-metering integration with DISCOM grids.

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• March 2025: Scheme crosses 10 lakh installations milestone [6].
• February 2025: Scheme completes one year ("Turns One" review) [7].
• FY 2025-26 (Apr 2025-Mar 2026): 18.71 lakh RTS systems installed, 6.7 GW cumulative capacity added, 22.71 lakh households benefited [1].
• 28 July 2026: Cumulative figures released — 39,72,447 installations, 48,02,717 households benefited since Feb 2024 [1].

7. Prelims Hooks

• PMSG: MBY launched by PM Modi on 15 February 2024 [2].
• Implementing ministry: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), not Ministry of Power [1].
• Scheme target: 1 crore households by March 2027 [3].
• Cabinet-approved outlay: Rs 75,021 crore [4].
• Subsidy: 60% for systems up to 2 kW, 40% for additional 2-3 kW capacity [3].
• Maximum subsidy for 3 kW+ system: Rs 78,000 [3].
• Collateral-free loans available at 6.75% interest via 12 Public Sector Banks [3].
• National application portal: www.pmsuryaghar.gov.in [1].
• Projected residential rooftop solar capacity addition: 30 GW [2].
• Projected electricity generation over scheme lifetime: 1000 BUs (billion units) over 25 years [2].
• Projected CO2 emission reduction: 720 million tonnes over 25 years [2].
• Since launch till 28 July 2026: 39,72,447 RTS systems installed benefiting 48,02,717 households [1].
• In FY 2025-26 alone: 18.71 lakh installations adding 6.7 GW capacity [1].
• Scheme is demand-driven — households apply via the portal; DISCOM connection is a prerequisite [1].
• Rural households are explicitly eligible under the scheme [1].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III: Infrastructure — Energy; Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation; Renewable energy and climate change mitigation.
• GS-II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors; issues arising from design and implementation.
• Possible question stems: 1. "Discuss the significance of PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana in India's transition to renewable energy and its potential impact on household energy costs." (GS-III) 2. "Examine the administrative and financial challenges in implementing a demand-driven, DISCOM-dependent rooftop solar subsidy scheme like PMSG: MBY." (GS-II/III) 3. "How does rooftop solar deployment under schemes like PM Surya Ghar contribute to India's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and energy security?" (GS-III)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• National Solar Mission / Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission — historical predecessor of India's solar push.
• India's NDC targets & Panchamrit commitments (COP26) — links rooftop solar to climate pledges.
• Net metering policy & DISCOM reforms — technical/administrative backbone for rooftop solar integration.
• PLI Scheme for Solar PV Modules — domestic manufacturing angle complementing demand-side schemes like PMSG:MBY.
• International Solar Alliance (ISA) — India's global solar diplomacy initiative.
• Ujjwala Yojana / Saubhagya Scheme — comparative household welfare energy schemes.
• Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) — regulatory mechanism linked to renewable capacity addition.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Confusing implementing ministry: it is MNRE, not Ministry of Power or Ministry of Housing [1].
• Mixing up subsidy slabs — 60% applies only up to 2 kW; the 40% rate applies to the additional capacity between 2-3 kW, not the whole system [3].
• Confusing launch date (15 Feb 2024) with Cabinet approval date — these are distinct events [2][4].
• Confusing this scheme's target (1 crore households, 30 GW) with overall national renewable energy targets (500 GW non-fossil by 2030) — they are separate figures.
• Treating "installations" and "households benefited" as identical — the household figure is regularly close to but not always equal to system count, since aggregate figures differ slightly (39,72,447 systems vs 48,02,717 households as of the FY2025-26 update) [1].