PM Surya Ghar FAQ: 40 Questions Homeowners and Installers Ask

Every week, homeowners and installers ask us the same set of questions about PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. How much subsidy? Who is eligible? Why is my application stuck? This PM Surya Ghar FAQ answers 40 of them in plain language, grouped by theme, with 2026 rules verified against the national portal.

We work with 1,000+ Indian solar EPCs (Engineering, Procurement and Construction companies) at QuickEstimate, so these are the questions that come up on real sales calls and real installations. If you want the scheme basics first, read what PM Surya Ghar Yojana is, then come back here for the detailed answers.

The first five questions everyone asks

PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is the Government of India's residential rooftop solar subsidy scheme, launched on 13 February 2024 by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). It targets 1 crore households with a budget of ₹75,021 crore. These five questions cover what the scheme is, who runs it, and where you apply.

1. What is PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana?

It is a central subsidy scheme for grid-connected rooftop solar on homes. The "muft bijli" promise means a correctly sized system offsets most of your monthly electricity bill, up to 300 free units a month for an average household. The full definition lives on our PM Surya Ghar glossary page.

2. Who runs the scheme?

MNRE runs it at the centre. Your state DISCOM (Distribution Company) handles feasibility approval, net meter installation, and commissioning at the local level. The national portal ties the two together.

3. How many households have benefitted so far?

About 40 lakh households had been solarised by May 2026, per Union Minister Pralhad Joshi. That is 40% of the 1 crore target in just over two years. Installations run at roughly 4 to 5 lakh per month in strong months.

4. Is the scheme only for individual houses?

No. Independent houses, flats, and housing societies can all apply. Group housing societies use group or virtual net metering arrangements where the state allows them. Shops, offices, and factories are excluded.

5. Where do I apply?

Only on the official national portal, pmsuryaghar.gov.in. There is no offline application. Beware of lookalike websites that charge a "registration fee", the real portal is free.

Eligibility questions

You are eligible if you are an Indian citizen, own a residential property with a legal electricity connection in your name, and have not already taken a central solar subsidy. There is no income limit. Six questions below cover the edge cases we see most.

6. Who exactly is eligible?

A residential (LT domestic) electricity consumer with a rooftop they own or have rights to use. The consumer name on the DISCOM bill must match the applicant. The scheme's official listing on the myScheme portal, Government of India confirms the same criteria. Full criteria are in our PM Surya Ghar eligibility guide.

7. Can a tenant apply?

Only with the landlord's cooperation. The electricity connection and subsidy application must be in the property owner's name, and the DBT goes to the owner's bank account. In practice, tenants rarely proceed unless the owner applies.

8. Is there an income limit or category?

No income limit for the general residential category. Any household, rich or poor, gets the same slabs. Some states add top-ups for low-consumption or BPL households, see state top-up subsidies under PM Surya Ghar.

9. Are shops and offices eligible?

No. The scheme is strictly residential. Commercial and industrial consumers get no CFA (Central Financial Assistance), though they can still install solar and claim accelerated depreciation on taxes.

10. I already got a subsidy under the old rooftop scheme. Can I apply again?

No. One central subsidy per household. If you took CFA under the earlier Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Programme Phase II for the same premises, you are not eligible again.

Subsidy money questions

The central subsidy is ₹30,000 per kW for the first 2 kW and ₹18,000 per kW for the third kW, capped at ₹78,000. It is paid by DBT into your bank account after commissioning, not deducted from your vendor's invoice. Five questions cover the money side.

11. How much subsidy do I get per kW?

₹30,000 per kW for kW 1 and 2, then ₹18,000 for kW 3. Nothing beyond 3 kW. The slabs have not changed since the scheme launched in February 2024, and MNRE has confirmed no revision as of mid-2026. Full slab details: PM Surya Ghar subsidy slabs.

12. Is ₹78,000 really the maximum?

Yes, for the general category. Whatever size you install, 5 kW, 8 kW, 10 kW, the CFA stops at ₹78,000. Size the system to your consumption, not to the subsidy. See how to calculate your exact subsidy.

13. How and when is the subsidy paid?

By DBT to your Aadhaar-linked bank account, after the DISCOM commissions the net meter and you submit bank details on the portal. Expect roughly 30 days after commissioning in most states. Timeline detail: PM Surya Ghar disbursement timeline.

14. Do states pay anything extra?

Some do. Gujarat's SURYA scheme and Rajasthan's ₹8,000 per kW top-up are active examples in 2026. Many states pay nothing extra. Always verify on your state renewable agency's site before quoting a number to a customer.

15. Does the subsidy cover batteries?

No. CFA applies to the grid-connected solar plant, modules, inverter, structure, and balance of system. A hybrid system with batteries is allowed under the scheme, but the battery cost gets no subsidy.

Cost, loan and EMI questions

A 1 kW rooftop system costs ₹60,000 to ₹75,000 gross in most Indian cities in 2026, and each additional kW adds roughly ₹55,000 to ₹65,000. After subsidy, a 3 kW system costs most households ₹1.1 to ₹1.4 lakh. Collateral-free bank loans up to ₹2 lakh at around 7% interest cover the gap. Five questions on the money you actually pay.

16. What does a rooftop system actually cost in 2026?

Industry pricing in 2026 puts a quality 1 kW on-grid system at ₹60,000 to ₹75,000 gross, including panels, inverter, structure, wiring, labour, and net meter charges. Prices vary by city, module brand, and roof type. Detailed sizing math: PM Surya Ghar cost by system size.

17. How much do I pay out of pocket?

Gross cost minus ₹78,000 (for 3 kW and above), minus any state top-up. For a typical 3 kW job, that is ₹1.0 to ₹1.3 lakh out of pocket, usually paid to the vendor in stages with the subsidy reimbursed to you later.

18. Is there an official loan for PM Surya Ghar?

Yes. Households can get collateral-free, low-interest loans of up to ₹2 lakh at around 7% interest through public sector banks, per the Press Information Bureau. SBI, Canara Bank, Union Bank, and Bank of Maharashtra all run dedicated PM Surya Ghar loan products in 2026. Process detail: PM Surya Ghar bank loan process.

19. What interest rate and tenure should I expect?

Around 7 to 7.5% per annum for scheme-linked loans, with tenures up to 10 years at some banks. Regular personal loans for solar run 10 to 14%, so the scheme-linked product is clearly cheaper. Compare options in PM Surya Ghar EMI options.

20. Will my EMI be lower than my electricity bill?

Usually yes, and this is the strongest sales argument. A ₹1.2 lakh loan over 5 years at 7% costs about ₹2,375 per month. A 3 kW system in a state with a ₹7 per unit tariff saves roughly ₹2,500 per month. The system pays its own EMI from month one, then pays you for 20 years after.

Here is a hypothetical example that mirrors what we see weekly. A homeowner in Surat with a ₹2,800 monthly bill installs 3 kW for ₹1.95 lakh gross. After ₹78,000 CFA, the net cost is ₹1.17 lakh, funded by an SBI scheme loan at about ₹2,300 EMI. The new bill drops to under ₹300. This is hypothetical but typical, your numbers depend on roof, tariff, and vendor.

Our opinionated take: 3 kW is the right answer for most Indian homes in 2026. It captures the full subsidy, covers 250 to 400 units of monthly consumption, and fits most roofs. Oversizing to 5 kW "because subsidy" is a mistake, the extra 2 kW gets zero CFA and the payback stretches by two years. The tradeoff is real though: if your bills already exceed 450 units a month, the bigger system wins on lifetime savings even without extra subsidy.

Application and vendor questions

You apply on the national portal before any installation starts, pick a vendor registered with your DISCOM, and wait for feasibility approval. Getting the order wrong is the single biggest reason applications fail. These five questions, plus our Five-Gate Subsidy Path framework below, cover the process.

We teach installers the Five-Gate Subsidy Path, a named sequence that keeps every PM Surya Ghar job on track. Miss a gate and the subsidy stalls. Run them in order and the money lands.

1. 1

   Gate 1, Eligibility check

   Confirm the consumer name on the DISCOM bill matches the applicant's Aadhaar and bank account, and that the connection is residential (LT domestic).

2. 2

   Gate 2, Portal application before installation

   Register at pmsuryaghar.gov.in, select state and DISCOM, and submit. Installing first is the most common fatal mistake.

3. 3

   Gate 3, Feasibility approval

   The DISCOM checks transformer capacity and sanctioned load, then issues technical feasibility. Only after this should equipment be ordered.

4. 4

   Gate 4, Installation by a registered vendor

   Use a vendor registered on the portal for your DISCOM, with ALMM-listed modules. Upload the installation photos and invoices.

5. 5

   Gate 5, Net meter, commissioning, DBT

   DISCOM inspects, installs the bidirectional meter, and issues the commissioning certificate. Subsidy then moves by DBT, roughly 30 days in most states.

21. How do I apply, step by step?

Register on the portal with your mobile number, pick your state and DISCOM, enter your consumer number, and submit with the rooftop details. The full walkthrough with screenshots: PM Surya Ghar application process.

22. Can I install first and apply later?

No. The application and feasibility approval must come before installation. Installed-first projects are routinely rejected, and we see this mistake kill subsidies every month.

23. Who is an empanelled or registered vendor?

A solar installer registered with your DISCOM and listed on the national portal for your area. Registration requirements and documents: PM Surya Ghar vendor registration.

24. Can I choose any vendor I like?

You choose from the portal's list for your DISCOM. If your preferred installer is not listed, they can register, it takes a few days to a few weeks depending on the DISCOM. Never pay an unregistered vendor for a subsidised job.

25. What documents do I need?

Aadhaar card, a recent electricity bill, bank account details linked to Aadhaar, and rooftop ownership proof where asked. The vendor adds invoices, module serial numbers, and installation photos at the commissioning stage.

Net metering and electricity bill questions

Net metering is mandatory for the subsidy. A bidirectional meter records both the units you import from the grid and the solar units you export, and you are billed only on the net. Surplus units carry forward or settle at your state regulator's rate. Five questions on how the bill actually changes.

26. What is net metering?

It is a billing arrangement where your solar exports offset your grid imports on the same bill. Our net metering glossary entry defines the terms, and what net metering is walks through a full billing example.

27. Is net metering compulsory for the subsidy?

Yes. The scheme covers on-grid and hybrid systems only, and the DISCOM commissions a bidirectional net meter before releasing the CFA. Off-grid systems with batteries and no grid connection get nothing.

28. Will my electricity bill become zero?

Close to it, if the system is sized right. A 3 kW system generates 330 to 400 units a month in most states. If your consumption is in that band, your energy charge drops near zero. Fixed charges and meter rent, usually ₹50 to ₹150 a month, still apply.

29. What happens to extra units I export?

They bank against future bills within the settlement period, or the DISCOM pays you at the state regulator's average power purchase cost, roughly ₹2 to ₹3.5 per unit in most states. Rules differ by state commission.

30. How long does net meter installation take?

Two to six weeks after your vendor submits the commissioning request, depending on the DISCOM. This is the slowest step nationally. Follow up with the local subdivision office if you hear nothing after three weeks.

How QuickEstimate fits

Every question above is also a sales conversation. When a homeowner asks "kitna lagega after subsidy?", your rep should answer with a branded PDF in 60 seconds, not a phone calculator. QuickEstimate is built for exactly this PM Surya Ghar workflow, subsidy auto-calculated per the 2026 slabs, net cost and EMI on page one, delivered on WhatsApp before your competitor finishes typing. See pricing, the free plan covers 10 proposals a month.

• Proposal Generator, 60-second branded PDF with the PM Surya Ghar subsidy pre-filled for the customer's system size.
• WhatsApp Follow-up, send the quote and the subsidy explanation in the customer's chat, with read tracking.
• Lead Capture, pull portal-era leads from Facebook, IndiaMART, and your website into one list.
• Pipeline Management, track each deal from survey to feasibility to commissioning so no subsidy application stalls.

What to do this week

Three concrete moves, whether you are a homeowner or an installer.

1. Homeowners: check your last three electricity bills, note the consumer name and monthly units, and register at pmsuryaghar.gov.in before talking to any vendor.
2. Homeowners: shortlist two portal-registered vendors, ask each for a net-of-subsidy quote in writing, and compare the ₹78,000 math line by line.
3. Installers: build the Five-Gate Subsidy Path into your sales script and send every prospect a subsidy-ready proposal the same day, and book a QuickEstimate demo if you do not have a system for it yet.

Frequently asked questions

31. Can I claim the subsidy on a second house?

The scheme allows one subsidised system per household per premises. If you own two houses with separate residential electricity connections in your name, the portal generally treats each connection as a separate application, but you cannot claim twice for the same premises. Verify your specific case with your DISCOM before applying, because the rules are applied per consumer number and the portal flags duplicate Aadhaar-linked claims. Source: PM Surya Ghar National Portal guidelines, 2026.

32. Is an off-grid system with batteries eligible?

No. PM Surya Ghar covers grid-connected systems only, either pure on-grid or hybrid systems that stay connected to the grid with net metering. A fully off-grid system with no grid connection gets no central subsidy. The logic is that the scheme's benefit is measured through the bidirectional meter. If you want batteries, install a hybrid system: it remains eligible for CFA on the solar plant, though the battery cost itself is never subsidised.

33. Can an apartment residents' welfare association apply?

Yes. Housing societies and residents' welfare associations can install rooftop solar on common areas for common loads such as lifts, pumps, and corridor lighting. The subsidy structure for group housing applies per the scheme guidelines, and several states support group or virtual net metering to share generation across flats. The application is made in the association's name with its electricity connection details. Capacity rules and CFA treatment for common facilities differ from individual homes, so read the state-specific guidelines on the national portal before quoting.

34. What if the name on my electricity bill differs from my Aadhaar?

Fix the bill first. Name mismatch between the DISCOM record, the portal application, and the Aadhaar-linked bank account is one of the top rejection reasons. Apply for a name correction with your DISCOM, which usually takes one to four weeks and needs a sale deed or succession document. Only after the bill reflects the correct name should you register on the portal. Vendors who say "apply now, correct later" are setting you up for a stalled application.

35. How long after commissioning does the subsidy reach my account?

Typically about 30 days, though the range across states is two weeks to three months. The sequence is: DISCOM installs the net meter, issues the commissioning certificate, you submit bank details and a cancelled cheque on the portal, then MNRE releases the CFA by DBT. Delays usually sit at the DISCOM inspection stage, not the payment stage. Track status on the national portal and escalate to your DISCOM's grievance cell if the meter is pending beyond four weeks after your vendor's request.

36. Can I install a system bigger than 10 kW at home?

You can, subject to your sanctioned load and DISCOM approval, but the CFA stays capped at ₹78,000 regardless. Most states also cap residential net metering eligibility at the sanctioned load or at 10 kW under simplified procedures, and larger systems may need additional documentation. For most homes, 3 to 5 kW is the practical sweet spot. Only go bigger if your consumption genuinely exceeds 450 units a month and your roof has the shadow-free space, roughly 100 square feet per kW.

37. Do I pay GST on the subsidy amount?

No. The CFA is a government grant paid to you, not a discount from the vendor, so no GST applies on it. Your vendor's invoice carries GST on the system and installation, at the composite rates applicable to renewable energy projects, and that invoice value does not change because of the subsidy. The ₹78,000 arrives separately in your bank account after commissioning. Keep the invoice and the DBT credit advice together for your records.

38. Can my installer charge me extra for handling the subsidy paperwork?

Nothing in the scheme authorises a separate "subsidy fee". The portal application, feasibility liaison, and commissioning paperwork are part of a registered vendor's normal scope, and most include it in the project price. If a vendor quotes a suspiciously low system price and then adds a paperwork charge, compare the total outlay, not the headline number. Report vendors demanding cash for "subsidy approval" through the grievance option on the national portal.

39. What happens if my vendor shuts down mid-project?

Your application survives because it is in your name on the portal, not the vendor's. You can select a different registered vendor for the remaining work. The risk is money already paid: stage payments should track physical progress, never pay more than about 80% before commissioning. If a vendor took an advance and disappeared, file a police complaint and a consumer forum case, and inform the DISCOM so the vendor's registration is reviewed. Choosing an established registered vendor with local references is the real protection.

40. Is the scheme ending soon, should I hurry?

The scheme runs until the 1 crore household target is met, with the budget of ₹75,021 crore approved for the mission period through FY 2026-27. About 40 lakh households were solarised by May 2026, so capacity remains. That said, subsidy slabs can be revised when targets near completion, and state top-ups change with state budgets. If your roof and bills justify solar, applying now locks the current slabs. Waiting for a "better scheme" has cost late applicants money in every past subsidy programme.