PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana

Syllabus: GS3/Energy

Context

• The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana has a vision to supply solar power to one crore households by March 2027.

PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana

• It was launched in 2024 and aims to provide free electricity to households by facilitating the installation of rooftop solar panels.
• Installation Targets:
  • By March 2025: To exceed 10 lakh, 
  • By October 2025: Doubling reaching 40 lakh,
  • March 2027: 1 crore households.
• The scheme offers a subsidy of up to 40% to households, making renewable energy more affordable and accessible. 
• Model Solar Village: 
  • An allocation of ₹800 crore has been designated for this component, with ₹1 crore provided to each selected Model Solar Village.
  • To qualify as a candidate village, it must be a revenue village with a population of over 5,000 (or 2,000 in special category states).
  • This initiative aims to promote solar energy adoption and empower village communities to achieve energy self-reliance.  

India’s Renewable Energy Capacity – India’s total electricity generation capacity has reached 452.69 GW.  – Having the 8,180 MW (megawatt) of nuclear capacity, the total non-fossil fuel-based power now accounts for almost half of the country’s installed electricity generation capacity.  – As of 2024, renewable energy-based electricity generation capacity stands at 201.45 GW, accounting for 46.3 percent of the country’s total installed capacity.  1. Solar power contributes towards 90.76 GW, wind power follows closely with 47.36 GW, hydroelectric power generating 46.92 GW and small hydro power adding 5.07 GW, and biopower, including biomass and biogas energy, adds another 11.32 GW.  India’s Targets – India has a vision to achieve Net Zero Emissions by 2070, in addition to attaining the short-term targets which include: 1. Increasing renewables capacity to 500 GW by 2030, 2. Meeting 50% of energy requirements from renewables, 3. Reducing cumulative emissions by one billion tonnes by 2030, and 4. Reducing emissions intensity of India’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 45% by 2030 from 2005 levels.

Conclusion

• The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana is set to significantly reshape India’s energy landscape by empowering millions of households with solar power. 
• The Model Solar Village initiative further supports rural areas in becoming energy self-reliant, underscoring the government’s commitment to sustainable development. 
• This ambitious programme sets India on a path toward a greener, more energy-efficient future, reinforcing its leadership in renewable energy.

Source: PIB