‘PM Surya Ghar’ portal launched in Delhi; combined subsidy of up to ₹1.56 lakh to promote rooftop solar

The Delhi government launched the ‘Delhi PM Surya Ghar’ registration portal on September 21, 2026. Through this portal, domestic consumers can access features such as applications for rooftop solar systems, information on subsidies, details of authorized vendors, and grievance redressal mechanisms. Information regarding the central subsidy, vendors, and application processes for the PM Surya Ghar scheme is available on Delhi's official solar portal.

Joint Subsidy from Central and Delhi Governments:

Eligible domestic consumers in Delhi receive a central subsidy of up to ₹78,000 under the Centre's PM Surya Ghar scheme. With the Delhi government providing an equal amount as a state top-up, the total assistance available to an eligible consumer can reach up to ₹1.56 lakh. The central assistance includes a provision of ₹30,000 per kilowatt for the first 2 kilowatts and ₹18,000 per kilowatt for additional capacity up to a total of 3 kilowatts.

National Significance of PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana:

The Central Government approved the ‘PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana’ in February 2024. The scheme has a total financial outlay of ₹75,021 crore and aims to install rooftop solar systems in 1 crore households. The scheme aims to encourage domestic solar energy generation by providing up to 300 units of electricity per month to households. It is implemented by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

Key features of the Delhi scheme:

Efforts have been made to make the scheme attractive for domestic consumers with low electricity consumption in Delhi. Small rooftop systems are being promoted for households with limited roof space. Facilities such as solar energy and EV charging can also be integrated into the scheme for group housing societies and community areas. Models such as CAPEX, RESCO, Hybrid RESCO, Community Solar, and Group Net Metering are available on the Delhi Solar Portal.

Linkage with energy transition and urban development:

Rooftop solar promotes decentralized energy generation and enables domestic consumers to become producers as well as consumers of electricity. This helps reduce the load on the grid, decrease reliance on fossil fuels, and foster the transition to clean energy. Integrating this with EV charging and community solar models in Delhi is also significant from the perspective of green urban mobility and sustainable urbanization.

Broader significance for UPSC:

This news is relevant to the 'Energy, Environment, and Renewable Energy' topics under GS Paper-III. It can be linked to India's energy transition, climate change mitigation, decentralized energy, energy security, rooftop solar, net metering, and the green economy. Furthermore, it exemplifies Centre-State cooperation, combining a central scheme with additional state-level financial support and local implementation. The overarching objective of the scheme is to boost clean energy generation at the household level and strengthen citizen participation in the energy sector.