Cabinet Approves PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana Providing Free Electricity to 1 Crore Families

The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval to the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, a scheme aimed at offering free electricity to over 1 crore families.

In an announcement by Union Minister Anurag Thakur, he mentioned that beneficiaries under this scheme would receive 300 units of electricity free of cost. This initiative is estimated to require a total expenditure of ₹75,000 crore.

The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is designed to enhance the residential rooftop solar projects in the country. One prominent element of the program is the financial support extended by the central government in the form of Capital Grant for residential rooftop solar projects.

The grant will be capped at 3 kW, with the beneficiaries being eligible for subsidies based on the capacity of the system installed. It is anticipated that this scheme will generate around 17 lakh direct employment opportunities in various sectors like manufacturing, logistics, sales, and installation services.

Moreover, households will have the opportunity to apply for subsidies through the National Portal, where they can choose an appropriate vendor for rooftop solar installation. Information such as system sizes, costs, vendor ratings, etc., will be available on the National Portal to aid households in decision-making.

Additionally, households will be able to access low-interest loan products for residential rooftop solar systems of up to 3 kW. The government will also establish a Model Solar Village in each district to serve as a cornerstone for rooftop solar adoption in rural regions. It will function as an exemplary model of successful implementation.