NEW DELHI, 9 Jul: The Centre has said that it would incentivise the panchayati raj institutions (PRI) to promote rooftop solar installations in the rural community under the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana as it urged the states to work for successful implementation of the scheme.
The panchayati raj ministry has written to states to share guidelines of the ambitious scheme launched in February 2024 to install rooftop solar panels and provide free electricity up to 300 monthly units for one crore households.
In a letter dated 8 July to all state departments, Panchayati Raj Ministry Additional Secretary Chandra Shekhar Kumar asked officials to share the operational guidelines of the scheme with the PRI, officers of the state panchayati raj departments, and other stakeholders for greater understanding.
He also called for taking “necessary actions to actively involve in the successful implementation of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.”
The additional secretary said that the scheme would also incentivise PRIs to promote rooftop solar installations in the rural community and contribute to adopting clean energy in rural areas and create a new source of revenue for the PRIs.
The Centre approved the scheme to increase the share of solar rooftop capacity and empower residential households to generate their own electricity.
The scheme has an outlay of Rs 75,021 crores, and is to be implemented during the 2026-’27 financial year.
It provides a central financial assistance (CFA) of 60 per cent of system cost for 2 kW systems and 40 per cent of additional system cost for systems between 2 kW and 3 kW capacities. The CFA will be capped at 3 kW.
The scheme has a Rs 800-crore budget to develop a “model village” in each district for the adoption of rooftop solar in rural areas and a Rs 1,000-crore outlay for incentivising local bodies to promote rooftop solar installations in their areas.
At current benchmark prices, this will mean Rs 30,000 subsidy for 1 kW system, Rs 60,000 for 2 kW systems and Rs 78,000 for 3 kW systems or higher.
The guidelines also provide an option for giving up the subsidy, which can be availed through the PM Surya Ghar national portal. (PTI)