PM launches Pradhanmantri Suryodaya Yojana, 10 million houses to get rooftop solar

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Monday the launch of ‘Pradhanmantri Suryodaya Yojana’ under which 10 million households will get rooftop solar power systems. “Today, on the auspicious occasion of the consecration of life in Ayodhya, my resolve has been further strengthened that the people of India should have their own solar roof top system on the roof of their houses. The first decision I have taken after returning from Ayodhya is that our government will launch ‘Pradhanmantri Suryodaya Yojana’ with the target of installing rooftop solar on 1 crore houses,” the PM said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

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The scheme will help reduce the electricity bill of the poor and middle class and will also make India self-reliant in the field of energy, said Modi.

‘Rooftop solar can help households become Aatmanirbhar in meeting electricity needs’

“Immediately after his visit to Ayodhya on the auspicious occasion of consecration of Suryawanshi Bhagwan Shri Ram, Prime Minister chaired a meeting to launch “Pradhanmantri Suryodaya Yojana” with the target of installing rooftop solar on 1 crore houses at his residence at Lok Kalyan Marg,” a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister said that the power of the sun can be harnessed by every household with a roof to reduce their electricity bills and to make them truly aatmanirbhar for their electricity needs.

Pradhanmantri Suryodaya Yojana

Pradhanmantri Suryodaya Yojana aims to provide electricity to low and middle-income individuals through solar rooftop installations, along with offering additional income for surplus electricity generation, said the PMO.

The Prime Minister also directed that a massive national campaign should be started to mobilise residential segment consumers to adopt rooftop solar in large numbers.

Rooftop solar power

A rooftop solar power system involves the installation of solar panels on the rooftop of a home for solar power generation. The system is connected to the main power supply unit. In India, the government currently has a National Rooftop Solar Scheme under which it provides financial assistance of 40 percent of the capital cost of a solar rooftop project.

Under the scheme, individuals can submit applications which go directly to the concerned power distribution companies (DISCOMs) for technical feasibility approval. Once approved, registered vendors selected by DISCOMs build the project.

According to the MNRE, there is 11.08 GW of grid-connected solar rooftop installed capacity in India as of December 2023.

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