How is the Muft Bijli scheme providing zero electricity bills to over 7.7 lakh households?
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New Delhi, Dec 16 (NationPress) The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is progressively reshaping the landscape of residential electricity in India. As per the information shared by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, over 7.7 lakh households have reported receiving zero electricity bills after the installation of rooftop solar systems. This initiative, which was launched in February 2024, seeks to make clean energy accessible while alleviating the financial burden of electricity expenses for families nationwide.
In a recent response provided in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy Shripad Yesso Naik revealed that as of December 9, a total of 19,45,758 rooftop solar systems have been installed across the country.
The ministry noted, "These installations have benefited 24,35,196 households under this flagship initiative." The goal of the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is to achieve rooftop solar installations in one crore households in the residential sector by the fiscal year 2026–27, with a total budget of Rs 75,021 crore.
This scheme is aimed at enhancing energy independence, reducing electricity costs, and facilitating India's transition to clean energy.
According to the ministry's data, Gujarat stands out as the leading state under this initiative, with over 4.93 lakh rooftop solar installations benefiting more than 7.10 lakh households, of which more than 3.62 lakh consumers are now enjoying zero electricity bills.
Andhra Pradesh, Assam, and Haryana have also made notable progress, with thousands of families benefitting from rooftop solar systems.
To ensure that rooftop solar installations remain financially feasible for households, the government is offering Central Financial Assistance alongside collateral-free loans at a favorable interest rate of 5.75 percent. This financial aid is intended to lower the initial cost of installation and encourage broader participation.
The government has also implemented strategies to increase adoption among rural households and economically disadvantaged sections of society. Guidelines have been released for the installation of rooftop solar systems under the Utility Led Aggregation and RESCO models, aimed at minimizing the financial and operational hurdles faced by beneficiaries.