The central government has announced that rooftop solar panels will be installed in one crore households across India by 2026-27 under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (PM-SGMBY). The information was shared by Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Launched in February 2024, this ambitious scheme aims to make solar energy more accessible and affordable, ensuring free electricity up to 300 units per month to eligible households. 

The government will provide financial support and subsidies, with the process being made simpler through an online portal for easy registration and installation. All states and Union Territories are part of this nationwide plan.
In addition to PM-SGMBY, the government is also running other green energy initiatives like the PM-KUSUM scheme, which helps farmers install solar pumps and grid-connected renewable systems to reduce their dependence on diesel and traditional electricity. The allocation of projects to states under these schemes depends on demand, performance, and readiness.

Joshi highlighted that according to studies by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), the renewable energy sector is projected to create 13 lakh new job opportunities by June 2025. Already, over 31,800 youths trained under skill development programs like Suryamitra, Vayumitra, and Jal-Urja Mitra have secured employment.

Focusing on Madhya Pradesh, Joshi said the state has made notable progress by installing around 11,279 MW of renewable energy capacity, including solar (5570 MW), wind (3195 MW), hydro (2358 MW), and bio-power (155 MW). Moreover, the central government has sanctioned eight large solar parks in the state, with a combined capacity of 4248 MW, to further boost clean energy generation. These initiatives are aligned with India’s goal to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based capacity by 2030 and reduce its carbon footprint while ensuring energy security for future generations.