Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Monday, 22 June 2026, praised the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana as a landmark initiative toward energy self-reliance, highlighting its expanding reach across the state through coordinated efforts of the central and state governments.

Context

In his post, CM Sai described the scheme — launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi — as a visionary campaign aimed at building an energy self-reliant India. Translating his remarks: 'Ab nagarik apni chhaaton ko swachh urja ke srot mein badalte hue kewal bijli upbhokta hi nahin, balki urja utpadak bhi ban rahe hain' — ('Citizens are now transforming their rooftops into sources of clean energy, becoming not just electricity consumers but energy producers as well.')

The Chief Minister tagged Prime Minister Modi directly in the post, signalling state-level political ownership of the centrally sponsored rooftop solar programme.

Policy Backdrop

The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana was launched by the Union Government to provide free electricity of up to 300 units per month to households by installing rooftop solar panels. The scheme offers substantial central subsidies to reduce the financial burden on beneficiaries and is designed to cover 1 crore households across India.

Under the scheme, households with a rooftop solar installation can sell surplus electricity back to the grid, effectively converting domestic rooftops into decentralised power generation units. Chhattisgarh, a state with significant rural and tribal populations, has been identified as a key geography for the programme's rollout given the high proportion of households with independent rooftops.

The joint implementation model — combining central government subsidies with state government facilitation — has been the operational framework for the scheme's on-ground delivery, including awareness campaigns, beneficiary registration, and coordination with power distribution companies.

Stakeholders and Impact

For households in Chhattisgarh, the scheme offers a dual benefit: elimination or significant reduction of monthly electricity bills and the potential for income generation through surplus power sale. Rural and semi-urban families, who often face irregular power supply and high per-unit costs, stand to gain the most.

The state's power distribution infrastructure and local bodies are key implementation partners, responsible for connecting rooftop installations to the grid and processing net-metering arrangements. The scheme also supports the broader national target of expanding renewable energy capacity and reducing dependence on coal-based power — a significant consideration given Chhattisgarh's historical role as a major coal-producing state.

For the BJP governments at both the centre and the state, the programme carries political salience as a visible welfare delivery mechanism ahead of future electoral cycles.

What's Next

With CM Sai publicly reaffirming the state's commitment, the Chhattisgarh government is expected to continue accelerating beneficiary enrolment and installation targets under the scheme. The emphasis on citizens becoming 'energy producers' suggests the state may further push net-metering adoption and awareness in districts where rooftop solar penetration remains low.

As India works toward its renewable energy commitments, state-level political momentum of this kind is likely to translate into intensified administrative push — with Chhattisgarh positioning itself as an active contributor to the national clean energy transition.