CM Bhajan Lal: Rajasthan hits 1,000 MW rooftop solar mark
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma announced on Wednesday, 15 July 2026 that the state has crossed a landmark 1,000 megawatt rooftop solar installed capacity threshold, crediting the achievement to the Central government's PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana and the participation of over 2,65,000 households across the state.
Context
Posting in Hindi on X, Sharma stated that Rajasthan has installed rooftop solar plants on more than 2,65,000 homes, pushing total installed capacity to 1,001.57 MW — a figure he described as a 'naya itihaas' (new history) for the state in the clean-energy sector. He attributed the milestone directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'visionary guidance' and the transformative design of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. The Chief Minister also extended formal thanks to the state's energy department, distribution company (Discom) staff, and citizens whose 'participation and dedication' made the achievement possible.
Policy Backdrop
The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana was introduced through the Union Budget 2024-25 with a national target of installing rooftop solar on one crore (10 million) households, offering beneficiaries up to 300 units of free electricity per month. Rajasthan, which benefits from among the highest solar irradiance levels in India, had already established a state-level framework through the Rajasthan Solar Energy Policy 2019, setting targets for both distributed and utility-scale solar generation. The state's Discoms are responsible for net-metering, subsidy disbursement, and integrating the additional distributed capacity into the grid.
The milestone fits within India's broader Panchamrit climate strategy, announced at COP26, which targets 500 GW of non-fossil fuel installed capacity by 2030. Rooftop solar schemes are central to that goal, reducing transmission and distribution losses while decentralising power generation to the household level.
Stakeholders and Impact
The most direct beneficiaries are the 2,65,000-plus Rajasthan households that have installed rooftop systems, who stand to offset or eliminate their monthly electricity bills through net-metering credits. Solar installers and equipment suppliers in the state have also seen sustained demand driven by Central subsidy flows. Discoms, meanwhile, face the dual challenge of managing a growing distributed generation fleet while absorbing the financial impact of reduced retail revenue from prosumer households.
For the BJP government in Jaipur, the figure carries political weight: it demonstrates measurable delivery on a flagship Central scheme at the state level, reinforcing the 'Viksit Bharat – Viksit Rajasthan' (Developed India – Developed Rajasthan) narrative that Sharma has consistently championed since taking office in December 2023.
What's Next
Attention will now turn to quarterly progress updates on the national one-crore household target to see whether Rajasthan's pace of adoption is being matched by other high-irradiance states. Any forthcoming state budget announcements on additional rooftop subsidies, enhanced net-metering tariffs, or Discom financial restructuring will be closely watched as indicators of whether the state can sustain — and accelerate — this trajectory. The 1,000 MW mark in rooftop solar alone, alongside Rajasthan's large utility-scale solar portfolio, positions the state as a key contributor to India's 2030 renewable capacity goals.