PM Surya Ghar crosses 40 lakh homes; 75 lakh targeted by December
Next story · 4 JunIndia–UK Critical Minerals Global Supply Chain Observatory launched
UPSC has already asked about this. Read the story with these questions in mind.
PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana crossed 40 lakh beneficiary households in two years, the MNRE said on 4 June 2026, and aims for 75 lakh by December 2026. A Utility-Linked Aggregation (ULA) model will help underserved homes. Launched on 13 February 2024 with ₹75,021 crore, the scheme has paid over ₹22,750 crore in subsidy.
- Release
- 4 Jun 2026, MNRE
- Launched
- 13 Feb 2024; outlay ₹75,021 crore
- Households
- 40 lakh+ beneficiaries; target 75 lakh by Dec 2026
- Installed
- 33 lakh+ systems, 12 GW+ (May 2026)
- Subsidy paid
- ₹22,750 crore+ (₹2,743 crore in May 2026)
- New model
- Utility-Linked Aggregation (ULA): about 30 lakh installations planned
PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana: what happened?
Rooftop solar lets a home make its own power and cut its bill. PM Surya Ghar pays a subsidy to make that affordable. Two years in, the Ministry says the pace has jumped, and it now wants electricity utilities to bring in poorer homes as well.
- Over 1 crore households have registered on the National Portal; more than 65 lakh applications are in the pipeline.
- May 2026 was the best month: 3.16 lakh installations, and 15,000 households in a single day.
- The time to add one lakh households fell from 118 days to under eight days.
- More than 17 lakh households now get zero electricity bills.
- A scheme logo and WhatsApp bot were launched; CEEW released two reports, one estimating over 3.3 lakh jobs a year in rooftop maintenance.
What is the Utility-Linked Aggregation model?
- Under ULA, power utilities (DISCOMs) take a lead role in bundling and installing rooftop systems, so households that cannot arrange it alone are covered.
- It mainly targets families with 1 kW to 3 kW needs; around 30 lakh installations are planned under it across States.
How fast is India’s solar capacity growing?
| Step | Time taken |
|---|---|
| First 50 GW | 96 months |
| Next 50 GW | 36 months |
| 100 GW to 150 GW | 14 months |
Total solar capacity crossed 150 GW as of March 2026.
What do the numbers show?
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Registrations on National Portal | over 1 crore |
| Rooftop systems installed | 33 lakh+ (May 2026), over 12 GW |
| Installations a month | about 7,000 before the scheme; over three lakh now |
| Zero-bill households | 17 lakh+ |
| Share of residential solar capacity | nearly 45% |
| Subsidy disbursed | ₹22,750 crore+ |
Why does PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana matter?
| Angle | What to note |
|---|---|
| Energy security | Home generation reduces exposure to imported fuel shocks such as the West Asia crisis. |
| Households | Lower bills; 17 lakh+ homes at zero bill. |
| DISCOMs | Less subsidy burden, but also lost sales from good-paying customers. |
| Climate | Feeds the 500 GW non-fossil target by 2030. |
What are the challenges in PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana?
- Maintenance gaps can cut output; CEEW flagged the need for an O&M ecosystem.
- Poorer homes with small roofs or weak finances still lag; ULA is meant to fix this.
- DISCOM finances need balancing as rooftop users buy less grid power.
What should be done next on PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana?
- Use ULA to reach households that cannot apply alone.
- Add battery storage as costs fall, as the Ministry plans.
- Expand Model Solar Villages and build local repair skills.
What can Prelims ask on PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana?
- PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana launched 13 February 2024; outlay ₹75,021 crore.
- 40 lakh+ households in two years; target 75 lakh by December 2026.
- Utility-Linked Aggregation (ULA) model for underserved homes.
- India’s solar capacity crossed 150 GW (March 2026); 500 GW non-fossil target by 2030.
How to write about PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana in Mains
Practice question (10 marks, 150 words): Evaluate PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana as a tool for both household welfare and energy security. What challenges remain?
- Intro: 40 lakh homes, ₹75,021 crore.
- Welfare: zero bills, subsidy.
- Energy security: West Asia context, 150 GW solar.
- Challenges: O&M, poorer homes, DISCOMs.
- Way forward: ULA, storage.
How to use this in Mains
- As per PIB (2026-06-04): PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana crossed 40 lakh households in two years; 75 lakh targeted by December 2026; a Utility-Linked Aggregation model was introduced for underserved homes.
- Rooftop and village solar cuts power bills.
Quotable data pointPM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana crossed 40 lakh households in two years.
PIB: MNRE: PM Surya Ghar two years, 4 Jun 2026
Exam angle
Prelims: scheme targets.
Practice MCQs
Original practice questions (not PYQs).
PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana was launched in
Answer (b) & explanation
PIB (MNRE), 4 Jun 2026: launched 13 February 2024.
The "Utility-Linked Aggregation" model, seen in the news, relates to
Answer (b) & explanation
PIB (MNRE), 4 Jun 2026.
Questions students ask about this
How many households has PM Surya Ghar covered?
Over 40 lakh beneficiary households in two years; the target is 75 lakh by December 2026.
What is the outlay of PM Surya Ghar?
₹75,021 crore; the scheme was launched on 13 February 2024.
What is the Utility-Linked Aggregation model?
A model in which power utilities help plan and install rooftop solar for underserved households; about 30 lakh installations are planned under it.
Keep studying
Go deeper
Official source: PIB: MNRE: PM Surya Ghar two years, 4 Jun 2026
facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending