Solar Surge: PM Surya Ghar Scheme Hits 1 Lakh Installations Every 6 Days
Union Minister Prahlad Joshi reveals PM Surya Ghar scheme has become a mass movement, hitting 1 lakh rooftop solar installations every six days.
The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana has rapidly transitioned from a government initiative into a genuine "mass movement," according to Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Prahlad Joshi. In a significant update on the scheme's progress, the Minister revealed that India is now achieving approximately one lakh rooftop solar installations every six days, marking a massive acceleration in the country's shift toward clean energy.
Overcoming Initial Hurdles
The journey to this milestone was not without its obstacles. Minister Joshi admitted that the early stages of implementation were fraught with challenges that slowed down the momentum. According to the Minister, the initial process was excessively time-consuming, and the digital portal faced several technical glitches during its rollout.
Beyond the technical side, the government struggled with the identification and onboarding of reliable vendors to carry out the installations. However, through coordinated team efforts, these bottlenecks were cleared. The efficiency gains have been staggering: what once took 44 days to reach one lakh installations is now being accomplished in just six days.
From Skepticism to a 'Jan Andolan'
The timeline of the scheme was further complicated by the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the initiative in February 2024, the Model Code of Conduct delayed its actual implementation until June.
Minister Joshi noted that there was significant skepticism during the early phases. Doubts persisted well into the planning stages about whether the Indian public would actually show enough interest to make the program viable. Despite these doubts, the Minister stated that the Prime Minister's appeal and the collective hard work of the administration have turned the project into a Jan Andolan (mass movement). He expressed confidence that the pace will increase further, potentially reaching one lakh installations every four or five days in the near future.
The Road to One Crore Households
The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana is currently recognized as the world’s largest domestic rooftop solar initiative. The government has set an ambitious roadmap to transform India's energy landscape by targeting one crore households by March 2027.
The Growth Projection:
- By March 2025: Installations are expected to exceed 10 lakh.
- By October 2025: The number is projected to double to 20 lakh.
- By March 2026: The target is to reach 40 lakh installations.
- By March 2027: The ultimate goal of one crore households will be pursued.
Financial Impact and Incentives
Launched on February 15, 2024, the scheme is designed to make renewable energy accessible to the common man by providing free electricity. To lower the barrier to entry, the government offers a subsidy of up to 40 per cent to households installing rooftop panels.
The impact is already visible. Within just nine months, 6.3 lakh installations have been completed. This represents a monthly installation rate of 70,000—a figure ten times higher than the average seen before the scheme was introduced.
Beyond the environmental benefits, the economic scale of the project is immense. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy expects that by benefiting one crore households, the government will save approximately ₹75,000 crore annually in electricity costs, further cementing India's commitment to sustainable development and energy innovation.