How well the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, a solar revolution, is faring across India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious PM Surya Ghar Yojana is bringing significant relief to residents across India through solar power subsidies and installations. India Today TV brings you the ground report from the states of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, as to how beneficiaries are leveraging rooftop solar panels for personal electricity use and, in some cases, even generating surplus energy to sell back to the grid, creating a new source of income.
India Today TV journalists spoke to consumers in Lucknow, Ghaziabad, Raipur, Jaipur, and Indore.
In Uttar Pradesh, where the government has set a target to install 25 lakh solar panels over the next three years, over 43,000 installations have been completed.
In Lucknow, beneficiaries like Prakash Mishra and Uday Pratap Singh have shared their experiences. Mishra, who works at the Bank of India, installed a 4 KW solar system, costing Rs 2.38 lakh with a subsidy return of Rs 1.08. The panel meets his daily energy needs and has cut his electricity bill substantially.
“My consumption before and now is same, but before I had to pay Rs 6,000-Rs 7,000 during peak summer and now I have to pay up to Rs 2,000,” Mishra said.
Uday Pratap Singh reduced his monthly electricity bill by Rs 3,500 during peak summer after installing a similar system. He had spent Rs 2.4 lakh to install the solar panels and got Rs 1.08 lakh as susbsidy.
“For a family of four, a 4 KW solar panel is sufficient,” Uday Pratap Singh said. “In April, I got this installed, and by end of May I got the subsidy from the state and central governments. I did not have to call anyone to get the subsidy. The power department also gave their full support.”
Surendra, who works as a teacher, installed a 3 KW solar panel for Rs 1.8 lakh and got a subsidy of Rs 1.08 lakh.
“It’s generating 11-12 units of power in this weather and if its sunny, it can generate 16–18 units of power. There’s a lot of benefit from this. I am saving Rs 2,500-Rs 3,000 per month,” Surendra said.
The city’s solar business is also thriving. Ravi Pratap Singh, a solar entrepreneur, reports a surge in demand, installing around 25 panels per day and employing over 30 people. He credits PM Modi’s solar promotion campaigns for this increase.
“This is a huge step towards Aatmanirbhar bharat,” Pratap Singh said.
He spoke about the installation process in detail and said, “Customers need electricity connection and a shadow-free space where the solar panels could be installed. The consumers need basic documents like Aadhar card, electricity bills etc, and then we register the consumer on central government’s website. On the website, we get instant approval for 1-10 KW installation. After approval, we install the solar panel and whichever discom is available in the area does an survey and make a report. Then the solar net meter is installed there. After that, within 30-45 days, the customer gets the subsidy from state and central governments.”
“Installation of solar panels takes up to one week, the entire process till solar net meter is installed takes 20-30 days,” Ravi Pratap Singh said, giving a rough timeline of the process.
Lokendra Vikram Singh got into the solar panel business in 2022 after he saw interest in renewable energy. “Customers want assurance from us about services, and that their money doesn’t get wasted,” Vikram Singh said.
According to Lokendra Vikram Singh, customers are provided with a five-year service support plan, including maintenance and cleaning guidelines for the panels. “For registration under the PM Solar Home program, the consumer’s electricity bill, email, mobile number, cancelled cheque, passbook, and Aadhaar are collected,” he said.
He credited the government for promoting the scheme and the renewable source of energy and the subsidy for attracting new customers.
When asked about consumption pattern, Vikram Singh said, “In summers, the consumption is more, but so is the production due to sunny weather. In winter, production is less due to weather, but the consumption also goes down.”
In Ghaziabad, Chief Development Officer Abhinav Gopal stated that over 5,000 residents have enroled in the scheme. With a target of 2 lakh potential consumers, the administration is promoting the scheme through banners, Gram Panchayats, and community meetings. As a result, 10 industrial connections have been secured. The initiative is also being disseminated through village panchayats to maximise outreach.
“I am sure we will be able to reach this target of 2 lakh consumers by next year,” Abhinav Gopal said.
Talking about the advantage of installing the solar panels, Gopal said, “Basic concept is, there is no storage in this system. Whatever electricity is generated, it is put in the grid. The power bill is minus the electricity generated. If you generate more electricity, the balance can be deducted from next month’s bill and maybe eventually you might get your power bill down to zero.”
Consumers who have already installed these solar panels shared their positive experiences.
Kedaar Singh, for instance, has installed a 5 kW solar panel system and finds it highly cost-effective. He applied online but mentioned that applications can also be submitted through UPNEDA (Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency).
Inspired by these benefits, his neighbor Ashutosh Bharadwaj now plans to install solar panels as well, viewing this as an optimal way to utilize his rooftop and make the most of solar energy.
“It is a visionary project and the best utilisation can be by installing it on our roofs,” Bharadwaj said, standing under solar panels.
Dr OP Agarwal, another consumer, installed a 7 kW solar panel on his rooftop and reports that his electricity bill has drastically reduced, calling the scheme a highly beneficial government initiative. According to Agarwal, the installation process is swift, typically completed within 15 days of application and survey.
Meanwhile, Ramesh, who has installed a 12 kW system, noted that his system is not yet fully operational due to vendor delays. He shared that under the scheme, a subsidy of Rs 1.08 lakh is available for systems up to 6 kW, and with his dual-panel setup, he is set to receive a subsidy of Rs 2.16 lakh.
Following PM Modi’s push for solar energy, Indore is also seeing a surge in solar power installations.
Indore Collector Ashish Singh stated that they are following government directives by starting solar installations in rural homes and ensuring that all urban government buildings are equipped with solar energy systems.
Residents who have installed solar systems are finding the initiative beneficial, as they shift their focus from current expenses to long-term savings.
Dhananjay Pandey, an Indore-based businessman, shared that, inspired by the Prime Minister’s call, he installed solar panels at both his home and business, yielding substantial savings. According to Pandey, a 3 kW solar system for a household costs around Rs 1.8 lakh, with a government subsidy of Rs 78,000, bringing the net cost down to Rs 1 lakh. This investment pays for itself in 4-5 years, with the solar panel company offering a 25-year warranty. This means that after the initial investment is recouped, consumers can enjoy free electricity for up to 20 years.
Many Jaipur residents have achieved significant relief from high electricity bills by installing solar panels on their rooftops. Where people once faced thousands in monthly electricity costs, many are now reporting bills down to zero. Additionally, some households have even started earning monthly income by selling excess energy generated by their panels. Motivated by these results, more people have applied to join the scheme, eager to free themselves from the financial burden of escalating power bills.
In Ram Nagar, Jaipur, resident Rajeev Sain shared his experience. He applied through an agency in October 2023, and by April 2024, his solar panel installation was complete. Although the process took around six months, he encountered minimal issues. His 10 kW solar panel system now generates about 50 units of electricity daily. He uses 25 units for personal needs and sells the remaining 25 units back to the government at a rate of approximately Rs 3 per unit. Where he previously paid around Rs 8,000 in electricity bills monthly, he now pays nothing. The total cost for his 10 kW installation was Rs 5.25 lakh, with a subsidy of Rs 1.17 lakh.
“I would recommend everyone to install solar panel and save themselves from electricity expenditure,” Sain said.
Ram Babu Sharma of Kataria Colony also benefited from the scheme. Initially, he installed an 8 kW solar panel system in 2022 at a cost of around Rs 3.5 lakh. The process was streamlined, handled by the agency, and required little involvement on his part. With the system in place, his monthly bill dropped from Rs 25,000-Rs 30,000 to around Rs 10,000. Recently, he added an additional 2 kW panel for Rs 1 lakh, reducing his monthly bill further to approximately Rs 3,000. He hopes to see this go to zero soon. Sharma commended the scheme’s smooth application process, mentioning that the company takes care of most formalities, minimising the need for repeated follow-ups.
Mahendra Kumar Garg of Nandpuri installed a 5 kW system in 2019 through a vendor, costing around Rs 2 lakh with a subsidy of Rs 67,000.
“This system generates 20 units per day, significantly lowering his electricity bills. Besides saving money, the solar panels help reduce pollution. And I can earn additional income by selling extra power back to the government at Rs 2.40 per unit,” Garg said.
With many residents reaping the benefits of solar energy, others in the community are inspired to follow suit. Ankit, a neighbour, observed the advantages his peers were enjoying—lower bills, a one-time subsidy, and the ability to sell power back to the grid. With his monthly electricity bill exceeding Rs 5,000, he recently applied for a solar panel installation. He is optimistic about the process and expects to eliminate his electricity expenses soon.
In Chhattisgarh’s Raipur, where over 1,600 installations have taken place, users are witnessing drastic drops in their electricity expenses.
Speaking to India Today TV, Suresh Agarwal lauded the easy installation process and quick crediting of subsidy.
“I consulted a corporate and came to know that installation is an easy process. In June the process began and was done by July first week. And by second week of July, my entire system was updated. On August 2, the solar system was started and by the end of the month, the subsidy was credited to my account,” Suresh Agarwal said.
He saw his monthly bill fall from Rs 8,000 to a mere Rs 200.
Another consumer, Dr Nageshwar Rao, said that he installed 5KW solar panel and the electricity bill is now in the negative and he is very optimistic about the future.
“The vendor made the process very smooth and easy. I did not even need to step out of the house for the paperwork. From approval to installation and the crediting of subsidy, everything was swift,” Dr Nageshwar Rao said.
Locals say that a smooth documentation and subsidy deposit process has boosted the scheme’s popularity.