Interim Budget: One Crore Households to Receive 300 Units of Free Solar Electricity

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman declares that individuals benefiting from the newly introduced rooftop solar scheme by the government will receive 300 units of complimentary electricity monthly, potentially saving them up to Rs 18,000 annually.

The 'Pradhanmantri Suryodaya Yojana' supplements an existing rooftop solarization program that has been in operation for at least a decade. Initially, 40 percent, or 40 gigawatts (GW), of the government's ambitious goal to establish 100 GW of solar capacity by 2022 was intended to come from rooftop systems. However, as of the end of 2023, the country's total solar capacity reached 73.3 GW, with grid-connected rooftop systems accounting for only around 11 GW, equivalent to 15 percent of the total.

She highlighted that the scheme would support the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) by facilitating the installation of charging stations at home. Additionally, it is anticipated that the initiative will generate entrepreneurship and employment opportunities in the areas of supplies, installation, and maintenance.