PM Surya Ghar: UP’s residential rooftop solar capacity surpasses 1 GW-mark

The curtailment rate for solar generation in October rose to about 12 per cent, the highest since May
| Photo Credit:
KUMAR SS

Uttar Pradesh has achieved the milestone of having more than 1 gigawatt (GW) of residential rooftop solar power capacity under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijlee Yojana’ (PMSG: MBY), the third state in the country to achieve this feat.

“By installing solar panels on the rooftops of 2.90 lakh houses so far, the state has achieved 1,003.64 megawatts (MW) of solar power. This achievement will directly benefit around 2.93 lakh families with affordable or free electricity every month,” the state government said on Friday.

In FY25, the state added around 640 MW of residential RTS capacity covering 1.62 systems.

This energy model not only reduces dependence on conventional sources, but also strengthens environment protection by saving approximately 4,000 acres of land, it added.

As of November 29, 2025, Gujarat has the highest installed capacity of 1.82 GW under PMSG: MBY, followed by Maharashtra (1.32 GW) and Uttar Pradesh (1.01 GW), as per the PMSG: MBY national portal.

The state has received more than 9,72,886 applications so far. The Central Government’s subsidy of ₹1,999.26 crore and the state government’s subsidy of approximately ₹600 crore has significantly reduced the financial burden on consumers.

UP offers ₹15,000 ($170.5)/ kW for up to 2 kilo watts (kW) and a total subsidy of ₹1.08 lakh ($1227.3) for 3 kW, which includes the Centre’s share. The subsidy payback period in UP is 20 months for 3 kW, against the national average of 30 months and around 54 months without any subsidy.

Under the scheme, families receive up to 300 units of free electricity per month, significantly reducing electricity bills.

The effective implementation of the scheme has also given new impetus to the technical and business sectors. Against 81 vendors registered in the initial phase, the number has now increased to 4,200.

“This has created approximately 50,000 employment opportunities in related sectors, providing a strong foundation for the local economy. Uttar Pradesh’s contribution to solar rooftop installations in India has placed the state at the national level,” the state government said.

Rising penetration of residential rooftop solar power (RTS) capacity in Uttar Pradesh has helped rural households save ₹800-1,500 per month on electricity bills. For urban households, the savings are in the range of ₹1,500-2,500 per household per month.

Savings from solar energy are reinvigorating agriculture in rural areas, while providing stability and strength to small electricity-based enterprises in urban areas.

Farmers are receiving affordable and uninterrupted daytime electricity, making them not only food providers, but also energy providers. The solar energy revolution has not only illuminated homes, but also opened up opportunities for employment and economic empowerment.

Published on November 29, 2025