Union Consumer Affairs and New and Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi on Thursday, 11 June 2026 highlighted the expanding reach of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, citing a recent survey that found rooftop solar adopters are experiencing an average 71 per cent reduction in their electricity bills, with nearly 42 lakh households already enrolled under the scheme.

Context

In his post on X, Minister Joshi wrote that the scheme is 'reducing electricity bills' and 'strengthening energy security,' framing the programme as central to what he called 'India's solar revolution.' He attributed the initiative to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, crediting the scheme's design with delivering 'tangible benefits to millions of families.' The minister noted that the journey of enrolling households 'continues,' signalling that the rollout is still in progress.

The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana was announced in the Union Budget 2024-25 with an ambition to install rooftop solar systems in one crore households across India, backed by central financial assistance in the form of direct subsidies. The scheme is administered by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, of which Joshi is the cabinet minister.

Policy Backdrop

India's push for rooftop solar sits within a broader renewable energy strategy that traces its formal origins to the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission launched in 2010, which set the foundation for scaling both grid-connected and off-grid solar applications. Over successive years, technology costs fell sharply and central subsidies were restructured to make residential installations more accessible.

The current scheme represents the most direct household-facing intervention yet, pairing installation subsidies with the promise of free or heavily subsidised electricity for qualifying families. India has also committed to achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, and rooftop solar is a key decentralised pillar of that target alongside large utility-scale solar parks. Domestic manufacturing has been supported through production-linked incentives to reduce dependence on imported components.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries are residential electricity consumers, particularly households in the lower and middle segments of the consumption ladder for whom electricity bills represent a meaningful share of monthly expenditure. A 71 per cent average reduction in power bills, if sustained at scale, would represent significant household savings running into hundreds of crores of rupees annually across enrolled families.

State electricity distribution companies and grid operators are also stakeholders, as widespread rooftop generation alters load patterns and requires grid-balancing investments. The scheme's success depends on coordination between the central ministry, state governments, and local distribution utilities to process subsidy applications and manage net-metering arrangements.

What's Next

The government's stated target of one crore household installations means the current figure of 42 lakh represents roughly 42 per cent of the goal, leaving a substantial pipeline ahead. Observers will watch for fresh budget allocations in the next fiscal cycle, state-level implementation reports, and whether the pace of enrolment accelerates as awareness and subsidy disbursement mechanisms mature. The scheme's performance will also be a data point in India's periodic reviews of its climate commitments ahead of international forums.