☀ INDIA SOLAR SCHEMES · 2024–25

Know what you qualify for — before the government portal

Eligibility, exact amounts, the real process, and common pitfalls — decoded in plain language so you land on the official portal already knowing what to do.

PM Surya Ghar →PM-KUSUM Avoid mistakes

Orientation guide only — not the official source. Subsidy amounts, eligibility rules and processes change. Always confirm on official portals and with your DISCOM before spending money or signing contracts.

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Central scheme · Residential rooftop

PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana

India's flagship residential solar scheme. Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for grid-connected rooftop solar on your home. Launched 2024, targeting 1 crore households.

💰 What you actually get

Up to 2 kW

₹30,000 / kW

Up to ₹60,000

Best for most homes

2 kW – 3 kW

₹18,000 / kW

₹78,000 total

Above 3 kW

Not applicable

Capped at ₹78,000

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Up to 300 free units / monthSolar generation credited against your bill. A 3 kW system can eliminate or significantly reduce your electricity bill.

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Subsidised collateral-free loansParticipating banks offer reduced-rate loans for the balance cost after CFA. Check the portal for empanelled banks.

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Net metering — export excess powerExcess solar fed to the grid is credited on your bill. Rate and mechanism varies by state and DISCOM.

✓ Am I eligible? — check each criterion

✓

Consumer typeIndividual residential household — own home

✓

Property ownershipYou must own the rooftop / property where system is installed

✓

Electricity connectionActive domestic connection from a registered DISCOM

✓

System typeGrid-connected on-grid or hybrid — not off-grid standalone

✓

Vendor selectionMust be empanelled / registered vendor on the official portal

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Prior subsidyHousehold must NOT have received solar subsidy earlier under any central scheme

✗

Commercial / industrialNOT eligible — residential domestic consumers only

Housing societiesSeparate RWA provisions — check portal for group housing pathway

✓ Required / eligible✗ Disqualifying? Conditional — verify

📋 The actual process — 7 steps

1
Register on portal
Create an account at pmsuryaghar.gov.in using your consumer number, mobile and Aadhaar-linked details.
2
Get DISCOM feasibility
Submit a technical application to your DISCOM. Wait for feasibility approval before purchasing any equipment.
3
Select empanelled vendor
Choose only from vendors listed on the portal. Get at least 2 quotes. Verify empanelment before signing.
4
Installation & net meter
Vendor installs the system. Apply for net metering via your DISCOM. Do not claim subsidy before net meter is verified.
5
DISCOM inspection
DISCOM engineer inspects the installation and issues a commissioning certificate. Keep this document safely.
6
Submit subsidy claim
Upload commissioning certificate, vendor invoice, bank details and required documents on the portal to claim CFA.
7
Subsidy disbursement
CFA transferred directly to your bank account. Timelines vary by state — track status on the portal.

📁 Documents you will need

🪪Aadhaar card

📄Recent electricity bill

🏦Bank account details (Aadhaar-linked)

🏠Property / ownership proof

🧾Vendor invoice / purchase bill

⚡Net metering approval from DISCOM

✅Commissioning certificate from DISCOM

🔧System technical details (capacity, make, model)

₹78,000Max central subsidy (3 kW home)

1 CrTarget households

300Free units / month (indicative)

25 yrPanel warranty (typical)

Ready to apply?You now know what to expect. Go to the official portal to register.

Open PM Surya Ghar portal ↗

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Central scheme · Agriculture

PM-KUSUM — Solar for Farmers

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan. Three-component programme targeting 30 GW of farmer-centric solar capacity.

💰 Three components — which applies to you?

A🌱Farmers & landowners

Ground-mounted solar (0.5–2 MW) on barren / fallow land — sell power to DISCOM

💰 ~30% central + ~30% state

B💧Individual farmers

Standalone off-grid solar irrigation pumps up to 7.5 HP replacing diesel pumps

💰 ~30% central + ~30% state; farmer pays ~10%

C⚡Farmers with grid pumps

Solarisation of existing grid-connected agricultural pumps + energy export to grid

💰 ~30% central + ~30% state; varies by state

✓ Key eligibility for farmers

✓Individual farmer or farmer cooperative with agricultural land

✓Existing diesel pump or grid-connected pump (for Components B & C)

✓Land within 5 km of a sub-station (Component A)

✓Aadhaar-linked bank account for direct benefit transfer

✗Urban residential consumers are NOT eligible under PM-KUSUM

✗Commercial / industrial loads are NOT covered

?State implementation varies — Component B may have a waiting list or quota

?Applications go through state nodal agency (DISCOM / agriculture dept), not just the central portal

Applying under PM-KUSUM?Contact your state nodal agency and check the central portal for state-wise implementation status.

Open PM-KUSUM portal ↗

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State-level · Varies widely

State Government Schemes

Most states have their own schemes on top of central ones. These can significantly increase your total benefit — always check your state portal too.

💰

State residential subsidy

Many states provide a top-up above the central CFA. Amount and mechanism vary — check your state portal.

e.g. Maharashtra, Gujarat, UP, Rajasthan have offered state subsidies at various times.

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Agriculture pump solarisation

State-level PM-KUSUM B/C implementation. Quota-based — apply through your agriculture department.

e.g. Check state agriculture / DISCOM portal, not the central portal.

🔌

Net metering / banking

State-specific export tariff, credit mechanism and system size cap. Not a subsidy but directly affects returns.

e.g. Some states credit full retail tariff; others apply a lower feed-in tariff.

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DISCOM incentives

Some DISCOMs offer accelerated processing, dedicated portals or faster commissioning.

e.g. MSEDCL, BESCOM and others have run specific rooftop programmes.

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How to find your state scheme: Search "[State name] solar subsidy 2024 site:.gov.in" or visit your state DISCOM's official website. State subsidies are often administered separately from the central portal.

Need state-specific policy data?Our policy library has published tariff and export settlement profiles.

Browse state policies →

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Before you sign or pay anything

Mistakes that cost homeowners their subsidy

The most common errors that lead to rejected or delayed claims. Read this before talking to any vendor.

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Paying vendor before DISCOM approvalHIGH

DISCOM feasibility must come first. Skipping this step can void the subsidy claim.

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Using a non-empanelled vendorHIGH

Subsidy is only for empanelled vendors. Verify on the portal before signing anything.

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Claiming subsidy before net meter is liveHIGH

Net meter installation and DISCOM commissioning must precede the subsidy claim.

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Trusting WhatsApp / verbal subsidy quotesMEDIUM

Amounts change. Only the official portal has the current applicable figure.

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Ignoring state top-up subsidyMEDIUM

Central CFA and state subsidy are separate. Check your state portal too.

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Oversizing to maximise subsidyMEDIUM

CFA caps at 3 kW. Beyond that you pay full cost. Size for your load, not the subsidy.

Pre-application checklist

Go through this before visiting any portal or talking to a vendor.

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Homeowners

Confirm you own the property — roof must be structurally suitable
Check your electricity bill — need an active domestic DISCOM connection
Verify your home has not received solar subsidy before
Size the system for your actual consumption, not maximum subsidy
Get DISCOM feasibility approval before paying any vendor
Verify vendor empanelment on pmsuryaghar.gov.in before signing
Get net meter installed and commissioned before claiming subsidy
Keep all invoices, certificates and bank details ready

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Farmers

Identify which PM-KUSUM component applies to your situation
Contact state nodal agency (DISCOM / agriculture dept) for quota status
Check if your district has PM-KUSUM quota before applying
Confirm land is within eligible distance from sub-station (Component A)
Have Aadhaar-linked bank account ready
Do not purchase equipment before beneficiary selection is confirmed
Verify which system size is eligible under your state's implementation

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Businesses & installers

Do not quote unverified subsidy amounts — always check current official benchmark
Clearly separate central CFA, state subsidy and net metering in all proposals
Confirm your empanelment is current and valid on the portal
Commercial/industrial consumers are generally not eligible for PM Surya Ghar CFA
Document all assumptions — date of proposal, scheme version referenced