Complete guide to PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. Get up to ₹78,000 subsidy on rooftop solar. Learn eligibility, application process, and how Greenify helps with installation.
PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is the Government of India's flagship scheme to promote rooftop solar adoption in residential households. With subsidies up to ₹78,000 and the promise of free electricity for 25+ years, this scheme is making solar power accessible to every Indian home.
What is PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana?
Launched in February 2024, PM Surya Ghar aims to install rooftop solar systems on 1 crore households across India. The scheme provides substantial subsidies to reduce the upfront cost of solar installation, making clean energy affordable for middle-class and lower-middle-class families.
Key Highlights of the Scheme
- Target: 1 crore households by 2027
- Maximum subsidy: ₹78,000 per household
- Free electricity: Up to 300 units per month from solar
- Net metering: Sell surplus power to grid
- Budget allocation: ₹75,000 crore
- Implementation: Through state DISCOMs
PM Surya Ghar Subsidy Structure
The subsidy varies based on system capacity. Here's the detailed structure:
For Systems Up to 2 kW
- Subsidy rate: ₹30,000 per kW
- Maximum subsidy: ₹60,000
- Typical system cost: ₹1,20,000
- Your effective cost: ₹60,000
- Monthly generation: ~250 units
- Monthly savings: ₹1,500-2,000
For Systems 2 kW to 3 kW
- Subsidy: ₹60,000 for first 2 kW + ₹18,000/kW for additional capacity
- Maximum subsidy: ₹78,000 (for 3 kW)
- Typical 3 kW system cost: ₹1,80,000
- Your effective cost: ₹1,02,000
- Monthly generation: ~375 units
- Monthly savings: ₹2,500-3,500
For Systems Above 3 kW
- Fixed subsidy: ₹78,000 (same as 3 kW)
- Typical 5 kW system cost: ₹3,00,000
- Your effective cost: ₹2,22,000
- Monthly generation: ~625 units
- Monthly savings: ₹4,000-5,500
- Recommended for: Larger homes, homes with EVs or ACs
Eligibility Criteria
- Indian citizen with residential electricity connection
- Own house with suitable rooftop for solar installation
- Valid electricity consumer number in applicant's name
- Not availed solar rooftop subsidy under any previous scheme
- Roof should be structurally sound and shadow-free
- Minimum roof area: ~100 sq ft per kW of solar
Documents Required
- Aadhaar Card (mandatory for subsidy disbursement)
- Latest electricity bill (showing consumer number)
- Bank account details (linked with Aadhaar)
- Passport size photograph
- Address proof (if different from electricity bill)
- Roof ownership proof (for apartments: NOC from society)
- Mobile number (OTP verification)
Step-by-Step Application Process
- Register on pmsuryaghar.gov.in with mobile number and electricity consumer number
- Complete profile with personal and address details
- Apply for rooftop solar by selecting system capacity
- Wait for DISCOM to verify and approve feasibility
- Select empaneled vendor from portal (Greenify is empaneled)
- Vendor conducts site survey and installation
- Request DISCOM inspection after installation
- DISCOM installs net meter and commissions system
- Upload commissioning report on portal
- Subsidy credited directly to bank account within 30 days
Timeline: How Long Does It Take?
- Registration to feasibility approval: 3-7 days
- Vendor selection and site survey: 1-2 days
- Installation: 2-3 days (residential systems)
- DISCOM inspection: 7-15 days
- Net meter installation: 7-15 days
- Subsidy disbursement: 30 days after commissioning
- Total time: 6-10 weeks typically
Net Metering Benefits
One of the biggest advantages of PM Surya Ghar is the net metering provision. Here's how it works:
- Your solar generates power during daytime
- Use what you need, export surplus to grid
- Bidirectional meter tracks both import and export
- At month end, you're billed only for net consumption
- If export > import, credit carries forward
- Annual settlement in most states
- Effectively: Pay only for power above your solar generation
Financial Comparison: With vs Without Solar
Let's compare a household paying ₃,000/month electricity bill:
Without Solar
- Monthly bill: ₹3,000
- Annual cost: ₹36,000
- 25-year cost: ₹9,00,000 (assuming no tariff increase)
- With 5% annual tariff increase: ₹17,00,000+ over 25 years
With 3 kW Solar Under PM Surya Ghar
- System cost: ₹1,80,000
- Subsidy: ₹78,000
- You pay: ₹1,02,000
- Monthly generation: 375 units (₹2,600 value)
- Reduced bill: ₹400-600/month
- Annual savings: ₹28,000-30,000
- Payback period: 3.5-4 years
- 25-year savings: ₹6,00,000+ (after system cost)
Choosing the Right System Size
Select your system based on monthly electricity consumption:
- Below 150 units/month: 1-2 kW system
- 150-250 units/month: 2-3 kW system
- 250-400 units/month: 3-4 kW system
- 400-600 units/month: 5-6 kW system
- Above 600 units/month: 7-10 kW system
- Have EV or planning to buy? Add 2 kW extra
Bank Loans for Solar
If you can't pay 40-50% upfront cost, banks offer attractive solar loans:
- Priority sector lending: Lower interest rates (8-10%)
- Loan tenure: Up to 5-7 years
- Collateral: Usually not required up to ₹10 lakhs
- Many banks offer special solar loan products
- SBI, BoB, HDFC, and others have dedicated schemes
- EMI often lower than current electricity bill
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don't choose non-empaneled vendors (no subsidy eligibility)
- Don't undersize your system to save money
- Don't ignore roof condition assessment
- Don't forget to get society NOC for apartments
- Don't delay net meter application
- Don't skip annual maintenance
Why Choose Greenify as Your Vendor?
- Empaneled vendor on PM Surya Ghar portal
- Tier-1 panels with 25-year performance warranty
- End-to-end service including subsidy processing
- Transparent pricing with no hidden charges
- Free site survey and system design
- 5-year comprehensive workmanship warranty
- Dedicated support for DISCOM approvals
- Post-installation monitoring and maintenance
Get Started Today
The best time to go solar is now. With PM Surya Ghar subsidies, government support, and falling solar prices, there's never been a better opportunity. Contact Greenify for a free consultation—we'll assess your roof, design the optimal system, and handle the entire process from application to commissioning.
Call us at +91-120-6911176 or visit our website to schedule your free site assessment. Join the solar revolution and enjoy free electricity for decades!