PVTIME – According to government data presented to Parliament, India has achieved 9.56GW of rooftop solar capacity under the Prime Minister’s Free Electricity Scheme for Solar Homes. As of 20 March 2026, over 2.62 million systems had been deployed nationwide since February 2024, benefiting around 3.24 million households, MNRE Minister of State Shripad Yesso Naik confirmed to the Lok Sabha.
The initiative aims to install rooftop solar panels in 10 million households, generating 1000 billion units of renewable electricity and supporting up to 1.7 million jobs. However, it faces challenges including high upfront costs, limited awareness in rural areas and bureaucratic delays.
To address these issues, the government has introduced regulatory reforms, such as the introduction of a national portal to manage subsidies and a streamlined application process, as well as preferential unsecured loans from state-owned banks. Ecosystem development includes workforce training and awareness campaigns.
MNRE data shows that Gujarat led with 6.67GW, followed by Maharashtra with 5.22GW and Rajasthan with 2.07GW. In contrast, Meghalaya (0.21MW), Nagaland (1MW) and Lakshadweep (1.6MW) had lower installations.
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