NEW DELHI, Feb 13: In a bid to boost solar power and sustainable progress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced that his government was launching the ‘PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana’ to encourage people to install solar panels on their rooftops.
Modi said with an investment of over Rs. 75,000 crores, the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana aimed at lighting up about one crore households by providing up to 300 units of free electricity every month.
The scheme was first announced by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman during the Interim Budget 2024-’25.
Modi said under the solar panel scheme, substantive subsidies would be provided to the beneficiaries of the scheme and that they would be transferred directly to their bank accounts.
“From substantive subsidies, which will be given directly to people’s bank accounts, to heavily concessional bank loans, the Central Government will ensure that there is no cost burden on the people,” he said.
The government will also incentivise urban local bodies and panchayats to promote rooftop solar systems in their jurisdictions. “At the same time, the scheme will lead to more income, lesser power bills and employment generation for people,” Modi pointed out.
Under rooftop installation, solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are fixed atop a building, home, or a residential property. All stakeholders will be integrated to a National Online Portal, the Prime Minister added.
“Let’s boost solar power and sustainable progress. I urge all residential consumers, especially youngsters, to strengthen the PM – Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana by installing rooftop solar panels,” he said.
(Manas Dasgupta)
