India achieved a significant milestone by linking 40 lakh households to rooftop solar power through the ‘PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana,’ as announced by Union Petroleum and Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. This initiative, guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to provide free electricity to citizens, promoting self-reliance and environmental conservation. Minister Puri hailed India as a solar power superpower, emphasizing the move towards clean energy.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal also praised the initiative, highlighting the empowerment of families and the promotion of self-reliance through solar energy adoption. Launched in 2024, the scheme has already connected over 40 lakh families to solar energy, fostering a new era of energy transformation under PM Modi’s leadership. The scheme has seen a substantial increase in funds utilization, reaching Rs 14,585.29 crore in FY26 compared to Rs 7,822.92 crore in FY25.
The ‘PM Muft Bijli Yojana,’ a demand-driven scheme launched in 2024, allows residential consumers with grid-connected electricity to install rooftop solar systems by applying through the National Portal of the scheme. The government estimates that installing rooftop solar systems in one crore households could generate 1,000 billion units of renewable electricity, potentially reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 720 million tonnes over 25 years. Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, and Rajasthan are the top five states in implementing this scheme.
Additionally, the government is working on the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) to establish India as a global hub for green hydrogen production, usage, and export. This mission aims to promote the adoption of green hydrogen and its derivatives, contributing to a sustainable energy future for the country.
