NEWS – Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the ‘Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana’, a government scheme under which one crore households will get rooftop solar power systems

HIGHLIGHTS

• Scheme involves installing solar power systems at rooftops for residential consumers + target of installing rooftop solar on 1 crore houses
• Help reduce electricity bills of the “poor and middle class” + push India’s goal of becoming self-reliant in the energy sector

WHAT IS INDIA’S CURRENT SOLAR CAPACITY?

• According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s website, solar power installed capacity in India has reached around 73.31 GW as of December 2023
• Meanwhile, rooftop solar installed capacity is around 11.08 GW as of December 2023
• In terms of total solar capacity, Rajasthan is at the top with 18.7 GW. Gujarat is at the second position with 10.5 GW. When it comes to rooftop solar capacity, Gujarat tops the list with 2.8 GW, followed by Maharashtra by 1.7 GW
• Notably, solar power has a major share in the country’s current renewable energy capacity, which stands at around 180 GW

WHAT IS THE ROOFTOP SOLAR PROGRAMME?

• Launched in 2014
• Aims to expand India’s rooftop solar installed capacity in the residential sector by providing Central Financial Assistance — the financial assistance to the eligible projects as per MNRE Guidelines — and incentives to DISCOMs (distribution companies)
• Goal is to increase rooftop solar installed capacity to 40 GM by March 2026 and it is currently in its second phase. Owing to the scheme, the country’s rooftop solar has increased from 1.8 GW as of March 2019 to 10.4 GW as of November 2023.
• A consumer can avail of benefits of the scheme through DISCOM tendered projects or through the National Portal (www.solarrooftop.gov.in)
• After installation and inspection of the system, the subsidy is sent directly to the bank account of the consumer