Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana (PM Suryodaya Yojana) is an initiative by the Government of India to promote solar rooftops in the country. It aims to install rooftop solar systems on one crore houses across India.

The scheme was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22, 2024. The PM said that promoting solar rooftops will:

• Reduce electricity bills for poor and middle-class families
• Make India self-reliant in the energy sector

The government wants to cover households across all income groups under this scheme. So it can benefit poor families as well as middle-class households.

Objectives of Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojna

The main goals of Pradhanmantri Suryodaya Yojana are:

1. Install 1 crore solar rooftops

Under this scheme, the government aims to put solar panels on 1 crore rooftops across India. This will expand the share of renewable energy in meeting our electricity needs.

2. Lower electricity bills

Solar rooftop systems generate electricity from sunlight during the daytime. This solar power gets used for running home appliances and lighting. So households can reduce their dependence on grid electricity and save on monthly power bills.

3. Extra income from surplus solar power

Some homes may generate more solar power than their consumption. These households can sell the surplus electricity to the grid and earn money. So PM Suryodaya Yojana can provide an extra source of income.

4. Create jobs & support Make in India

A massive rooftop solar program will lead to more demand for solar products/services and create lots of jobs. It can also boost domestic manufacturing under Make in India.

Benefits of enrolling in PM Suryodaya Yojna

Households joining the PM Suryodaya Yojana stand to gain in the following ways:

1. Lower electricity expenses

• Solar power is cheaper than grid power
• Can cut monthly electricity bills by 50-90%

2. Protect against rising tariffs

• Grid power rates increase frequently
• Solar energy is free once the system is installed

3. Get subsidies on solar system

• Central and state governments offer subsidies
• Makes rooftop solar affordable

4. Income from surplus solar power

• Net metering mechanism credits surplus solar units to grid
• Households paid for exporting excess solar power

5. No hassles of power cuts

• Solar systems have battery backup to store electricity
• Ensures power supply during outages

6. Reduce carbon footprint

• Solar energy produces no emissions
• Helps households reduce their carbon footprint

So by installing a solar rooftop system under this scheme, you can manage your electricity expenses in a better way and also help the environment.

Eligibility criteria for PM Suryodaya Yojana subsidy

Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana aims to cover poor, middle-class, and high-income households. The eligibility criteria for availing subsidies under the scheme are:

1. Building ownership:- Subsidies are available only for systems installed on owned homes, not rented buildings.

2. No existing solar rooftop:- Houses without any solar rooftop system can get subsidies for installing one.

3. System capacity:- Subsidies are limited to solar rooftop systems up to 10 kW capacity.

4. Grid connectivity:- The solar rooftop system must get connected to the electricity grid for net metering. Off-grid systems don’t get subsidies.

So before applying for PM Suryodaya Yojana, ensure you meet these eligibility norms prescribed by the government.

Subsidies offered under PM Suryodaya Yojana

Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana provides central financial assistance (CFA) to citizens for setting up rooftop solar systems.

The CFA rates applicable are:

General states refer to all states except special category states.

Special category states include northeastern states, hill states like Himachal Pradesh/Uttarakhand, and Union Territories like J&K, Ladakh.

These subsidies reduce the overall cost of solar rooftop systems. It makes the PM Suryodaya Yojana affordable for poor and middle-income groups too.

How to apply for PM Suryodaya Yojana?

You can apply for subsidies under the PM Suryodaya Yojana through an online portal.

The step-by-step process is:

1) System feasibility assessment:- Get your rooftop evaluated for technical feasibility to install a solar system. You can hire channel partners authorized by MNRE for this evaluation.

2) Vendor selection:- Compare quotes from different solar vendors and select one vendor to buy the rooftop solar system from.

3) Online registration:- The chosen vendor will help you with online registration on the PM Suryodaya Yojana portal.

4) Subsidy approval:- You’ll get subsidy approval from the portal within 30 days if eligible.

5) Solar system installation:- The vendor then supplies material and installs the net-metered solar rooftop system at your home.

6) Commissioning & connection:- Finally, your solar system gets commissioned, tested, and connected to the grid for net metering activation.

So the entire process from registration to commissioning may take 2-3 months. Reach out to an authorized solar vendor to assist you.

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PM Suryodaya Yojana implementation status

As of December 2023, here is the rooftop solar capacity installed under the PM Suryodaya Yojana:

• Total target: 4 GW
• Allocated to states: 3.57 GW
• Installed capacity: 2.65 GW

The government has extended the completion deadline of the scheme from 2022 to March 2026.

So 1.35 GW capacity remains to be installed across India by 2026 to achieve the PM Suryodaya Yojana’s target.

Future expansion plans

In his announcement speech, Prime Minister Modi set an ambitious target of installing solar systems on one crore houses under the PM Suryodaya Yojana.

This is much larger than the existing Rooftop Solar program’s phase 2 target of 4 GW.

To drive rooftop solar adoption:

• Subsidies and financing schemes will be strengthened
• More awareness campaigns across states
• Make processes seamless for faster rollout

So in the coming years, we can expect the PM Suryodaya Yojana to see massive growth supported by policy push and streamlining of procedures.

Conclusion

The Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana aims to proliferate solar rooftops in India. This can revolutionize clean energy access while saving costs for households.

Citizens across income groups are eligible for subsidies under the scheme for installing solar systems. So if you own a home, evaluate getting a solar rooftop to manage rising power bills.

I hope this guide on the PM Suryodaya Yojana gave you a good understanding of the scheme. Share your thoughts or queries in the comments!