75 Lakh Households Targeted for Rooftop Solar Installations by December 2026: Union New & Renewable Minister, Shri Pralhad Joshi

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75 Lakh Rooftop Solar Households by Dec 2026 — PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana

PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY) — Central Sector Scheme to install rooftop solar (RTS) in 1 crore households by March 2027 with up to 300 free units/month [S1][S2].
Implemented by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE); aims to add ~30 GW RTS capacity in the residential sector [S2][S3].
Headline in June 2026: Minister Pralhad Joshi set interim target of 75 lakh households by December 2026 and launched the Utility-Linked Aggregation (ULA) model, PM Surya Ghar logo, and WhatsApp bot at the 2-year anniversary event [S1].

04 June 2026: MNRE marked two years of PMSGMBY; Minister Pralhad Joshi announced the 75 lakh household interim target by Dec 2026 and unveiled the ULA model for underserved households, plus a WhatsApp bot and official logo [S1].
Scheme already crossed 40 lakh beneficiary households within two years of launch [S1].

13 February 2024: PM Narendra Modi launched PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana [S3].
29 February 2024: Union Cabinet approved scheme with outlay of ₹75,021 crore [S3].
Successor/expansion of earlier Rooftop Solar Programme Phase-II of MNRE [S2].
Milestones: 10 lakh installations crossed by Mar 2025 [S4]; 23.96 lakh households reported (early 2025) [S2]; 26 lakh installations + ₹17,967 crore subsidy support reported in later 2025 update [S5]; 40 lakh by 2-year mark (June 2026) [S1].

Scheme type: Central Sector Scheme [S3].
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) [S2].
Outlay: ₹75,021 crore [S3].
Target: 1 crore households by March 2027; interim 75 lakh by Dec 2026 [S1][S2].
Capacity addition target: ~30 GW residential RTS [S2].
Central Financial Assistance (CFA / Subsidy):
60% of system cost up to 2 kW
40% of additional cost for 2–3 kW segment
Capped at 3 kW → ₹30,000 (1 kW), ₹60,000 (2 kW), ₹78,000 (≥3 kW) [S2][S3].
Free electricity: up to 300 units/month per household [S3].
Innovative Projects component: ₹500 crore (MNRE guidelines) [S6].
New 2026 features: ULA (Utility-Linked Aggregation) model for underserved households; WhatsApp bot; official logo [S1].
Related sub-scheme: Model Solar Village (operational guidelines issued by GoI) [S7].

Economic: Estimated household saving of ~₹15,000/year; CFA disbursed ₹17,967 crore support across 26 lakh installations (2025 update) [S5]. Boosts domestic solar manufacturing under Aatmanirbhar Bharat [S2].
Environmental: 30 GW residential RTS reduces fossil dependence, supports India's NDC targets (500 GW non-fossil by 2030) and Panchamrit commitments under UNFCCC [S2].
Social / Equity: ULA model (2026) specifically targets underserved households unable to afford upfront capex; tackles digital and credit access gaps [S1].
Administrative / Federalism: Implementation via DISCOMs under state jurisdiction (Electricity is Concurrent List); National Portal for application, vendor onboarding, net-metering [S2].
Scientific/Tech: Net-metering, grid integration, DBT to beneficiary bank accounts, integration with PM Surya Ghar app/portal and now WhatsApp bot [S1][S2].

June 2026: 40 lakh households crossed; ULA model, logo, WhatsApp bot launched; 75 lakh by Dec 2026 target announced [S1].
2025: 26 lakh installations; ₹17,967 crore subsidy support disbursed [S5].
Mar 2025: >10 lakh installations; >3 GW RTS capacity added; ₹4,770 crore subsidy to 6.13 lakh beneficiaries [S2][S4].
2024: MNRE notified guidelines for ₹500 crore Innovative Projects component [S6] and Model Solar Village operational guidelines [S7].

Launched by PM on 13 February 2024 [S3].
Cabinet approval: 29 February 2024; outlay ₹75,021 crore [S3].
Nodal Ministry: MNRE (not Ministry of Power) [S2].
Free electricity ceiling: 300 units/month [S3].
Subsidy cap: 3 kW → max ₹78,000 [S2].
Subsidy at 1 kW = ₹30,000, 2 kW = ₹60,000 [S2].
Final target: 1 crore households by March 2027 [S2].
Interim target: 75 lakh by December 2026 [S1].
30 GW residential RTS capacity addition [S2].
2026 announcements at 2-year event: ULA model, WhatsApp bot, logo [S1].
Minister in charge: Shri Pralhad Joshi (also Consumer Affairs, Food & PD) [S1].
Innovative Projects component outlay: ₹500 crore [S6].
Sub-initiative: Model Solar Village [S7].

GS-III: Infrastructure – Energy; Conservation, Environmental impact assessment; Inclusive growth.
GS-II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors.
Possible question stems: 1. "Critically evaluate PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana as a vehicle for India's energy transition and household-level energy democracy." 2. "Discuss the role of rooftop solar in achieving India's 500 GW non-fossil capacity target by 2030. What bottlenecks does the ULA model address?" 3. "Examine how subsidy design and DISCOM coordination determine the success of decentralised renewable energy schemes in India."

PM-KUSUM — solar pumps for farmers, MNRE.
Rooftop Solar Programme Phase-II — predecessor framework.
National Solar Mission (JNNSM) — umbrella mission under NAPCC.
India's NDC and Panchamrit (COP-26) — international climate pledges.
Green Hydrogen Mission — complementary RE pillar.
ISA (International Solar Alliance) — India-led, HQ Gurugram.
PLI Scheme for High-Efficiency Solar PV Modules — supply-side complement.
Electricity Act 2003 & DISCOM reforms (RDSS) — net-metering / grid backbone.

Scheme is under MNRE, not Ministry of Power.
300 units/month free is the cap of the benefit — not the subsidy formula. Subsidy is calculated on kW capacity, capped at 3 kW.
Final target year is March 2027, not 2026; the 75 lakh figure is an interim Dec 2026 target announced June 2026.
Outlay is ₹75,021 crore — often confused with the 75 lakh household figure.
Cabinet approval date (29 Feb 2024) differs from PM launch date (13 Feb 2024).
"PM Surya Ghar" is distinct from PM-KUSUM (which is agricultural).

[S1] 75 Lakh Households Targeted for Rooftop Solar Installations by December 2026 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2268992 — (tier: 1)
[S2] PM Surya Ghar Reaches 23.96 Lakh Households; Nearly One-Fourth of Target — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2200441 — (tier: 1)
[S3] Cabinet approves PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2010133 — (tier: 1)
[S4] PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana Crosses 10 Lakh Installations — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2110283 — (tier: 1)
[S5] PM Surya Ghar Yojana Delivers Scale with 26 Lakh Installations and ₹17,967 Crore Support — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2244670 — (tier: 1)
[S6] MNRE notifies Scheme Guidelines for ₹500 crore Innovative Projects component — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2064203 — (tier: 1)
[S7] Operational Guidelines for Model Solar Village under PM-Surya Ghar — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2044454 — (tier: 1)