PM Surya Ghar Yojana – There is enthusiasm across the country regarding the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Yojana. This scheme was started in February 2024, and is becoming increasingly popular. Actually, the goal of this scheme is to install solar energy (solar panels) in 10 crore homes, which will increase India’s energy self-sufficiency and reduce the electricity bill.
The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) recently announced that the scheme has achieved annual savings of Rs 1,600 crore, and aims to achieve total savings of Rs 5 lakh crore by 2027. According to government data, solar rooftop systems have been installed in more than 1.5 crore houses under the scheme so far, leading to an average annual saving of Rs 12,000 per house. This saving has been made possible by the reduction in electricity bills and the use of solar energy.
Target of 10 crore houses
The government has set an ambitious target of installing solar panels in 10 crore houses by 2027, which will reduce India’s carbon footprint and promote renewable energy.
Subsidy and financial assistance
The central government is providing a subsidy of Rs 30,000 to Rs 78,000 for a 1-3 kW solar system. Apart from this, loans at low interest rates and easy installment schemes are also available.
This scheme is not only reducing the electricity cost of homes, but has also created more than 10 lakh jobs in the solar energy sector. Employment opportunities have increased in areas like solar panel manufacturing, installation and maintenance. In the next phase, the target is to generate more than 20 lakh jobs in the solar energy sector.
Not only this, according to MNRE, the scheme has so far added 2.5 gigawatts of solar power generation capacity, which has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 1.8 million tonnes per year. This is a big step towards India’s goal of meeting 50% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2030.
Where and how to apply?
In fact, even today the availability of electricity is limited in rural areas, where solar rooftop systems have generated and provided continuous electricity to homes, which has promoted education, health and small businesses. The government has planned to further improve the pmsuryaghar.gov.in portal so that people can easily apply for subsidy and track it. You can gather information by visiting this website.
Challenges and Solutions
People in many rural and urban areas are still unaware of the benefits of the scheme and the subsidy process. The government is continuously running awareness campaigns. Also, emphasis is being laid on research and development to increase the quality and efficiency of solar panels. The government will encourage manufacturing units to promote indigenous solar equipment. There is a plan to promote battery storage systems, so that solar energy can be used even at night.