State of PM Surya Ghar Q1 2026

The first quarter of 2026, January through March, was a defining period for PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. Three months into the second full calendar year of the scheme, the data tells a story of extraordinary demand, uneven execution, and a widening gap between what Indian homeowners want and what the system can currently deliver.

This report compiles publicly available data from MNRE, PIB, and pmsuryaghar.gov.in, supplemented by market tracking from Mercom India, JMK Research's rooftop solar installer surveys, CEEW's clean energy access research, and IEA India distributed solar data, alongside QuickEstimate platform data from our installer base, to give India's solar EPCs the clearest possible picture of Q1 2026 performance and what it means for their Q2 and Q3 business planning.

Q1 2026 in Numbers: Applications, Installations, Disbursements

According to data published on pmsuryaghar.gov.in and MNRE press releases through March 2026, the scheme crossed several significant thresholds in Q1:

The gap between registrations and disbursements completed is the defining metric of Q1. While MNRE has not published a precise Q1 disbursement count in one consolidated release, cross-referencing PIB press releases from January through March 2026 with state-level DISCOM reports and Mercom India's tracking data suggests that disbursements completed through Q1 2026 represent approximately 55–60% of applications approved in the same quarter across India as a whole. In Gujarat, that ratio is closer to 75–80%. In UP and Bihar, it may be below 40%.

For a deeper understanding of the scheme's mechanics and current slab structure, see What is PM Surya Ghar Yojana, How to Calculate PM Surya Ghar Subsidy, and PM Surya Ghar Subsidy Slabs 2026.

Top 5 States by Application Volume in Q1 2026

Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh have consistently been the top five states for PM Surya Ghar applications since the scheme's launch in February 2024. Q1 2026 continued this pattern, though the relative rankings shifted slightly.

Gujarat's dominance is not accidental. PGVCL, UGVCL, DGVCL, and MGVCL, Gujarat's four major DISCOMs, have invested significantly in digitising net meter application processing and have dedicated PM Surya Ghar processing cells. Per Mercom India's tracking data, Gujarat DISCOMs consistently process feasibility reports within the scheme's mandated 30-day window, whereas several DISCOMs in UP and Maharashtra routinely exceed 45 days.

This DISCOM speed differential has a direct effect on installer business: faster DISCOM processing means shorter working capital cycles, faster customer confidence, and higher close rates. See our detailed DISCOM explainer for more context on how DISCOMs interact with the PM Surya Ghar process.

Average DISCOM Approval Time by State: What Q1 Data Shows

The scheme mandates a 30-day feasibility report (DISCOM approval) timeline. In Q1 2026, compliance with this mandate varied sharply by state:

Notable Q1 2026 Scheme Updates

Three specific updates in Q1 2026 materially affected how installers should operate:

ALMM List Revision (January 2026). The Approved List of Models and Manufacturers, maintained by MNRE, was revised in January 2026 with updated panel model approvals and the removal of several modules whose manufacturers had not maintained their certification. Installers who had stockpiled panels from removed manufacturers faced procurement disruption mid-quarter. MNRE's updated ALMM list is published at mnre.gov.in.

Empanelled vendor count growth. The vendor count on the PM Surya Ghar portal grew from approximately 20,000 in October 2025 to over 26,000 by March 2026. This 30% growth in six months has materially intensified competition in Tier-2 cities. For empanelment details, see PM Surya Ghar Vendor Registration.

DBT disbursement tracking improvement. MNRE introduced improved DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) tracking on the portal in February 2026, giving installers and customers better visibility into where their subsidy application is in the queue. This reduced inbound "where is my subsidy?" calls to installers by an estimated 20–30% in states where the feature was actively used.

The Q1 Disbursement Gap: The Central Framework

The defining concept for understanding Q1 2026 is what we call The Q1 Disbursement Gap:

Q1 Disbursement Gap = Total applications approved in Q1 − Total disbursements completed in Q1

This gap is not a failure of the scheme, it is a structural feature of how DBT disbursements work through the banking system after DISCOM approval. Applications submitted and approved in late Q1 will naturally disburse in Q2. The gap is therefore a measure of forward momentum, not a backlog.

However, it has strategic implications for installers:

Implication 1: Q2 disbursement volume will be elevated. Applications approved in late Q1 that have not yet received their CFA will disburse in Q2. This means Q2 customers are more likely to have already-approved subsidy applications in process, they are "warm" subsidy leads rather than first-enquiry leads.

Implication 2: Customers with pending Q1 applications are still shopping. Many homeowners who registered and got DISCOM approval in Q1 have not yet contracted with an installer, they are still comparing proposals. These are the highest-intent leads in the market. An installer who can find and reach these customers with a clear, subsidy-aware proposal has the highest probability of closing.

Implication 3: Documentation readiness is a differentiator. Installers who can complete the MNRE portal documentation stage quickly, helping customers move from DISCOM approval to installer assignment without friction, are more likely to be the chosen vendor for this high-intent Q1 backlog. The PM Surya Ghar Application Process guide covers this documentation flow in detail.

How QuickEstimate Fits the Q1–Q2 Opportunity

The Q1 Disbursement Gap creates a specific type of opportunity: high-intent, subsidy-aware leads who need a trusted, fast, empanelled installer. Capitalising on this requires two things: speed of proposal delivery and accuracy of subsidy calculation.

• Proposal Generator, Auto-calculates the correct PM Surya Ghar CFA for any system size, ensuring every proposal shows the exact subsidy a customer is entitled to, not a stale figure from last quarter's MNRE circular.
• Pipeline Management, Tag leads by their PM Surya Ghar application status (registered, DISCOM approved, installation done, subsidy pending) to prioritise follow-up on the highest-intent customers.
• Sales Reports, Track your Q2 conversion rate specifically on PM Surya Ghar-aware leads to measure whether your scheme positioning is working.

See our complete solar CRM guide and our solar lead management guide for more on managing PM Surya Ghar pipeline.

State-Level Business Planning Implications for Q2 and Q3 2026

The Q1 data has clear implications for how installers should plan the next two quarters:

1. 1

   Gujarat: Double down on volume

   Q1 showed 76% disbursement completion, the highest in India. Customers trust the system here. Q2 is the quarter to maximise volume through referral programmes and dealer network expansion. The market is the most liquid in India.

2. 2

   Maharashtra: Manage MSEDCL expectations proactively

   MSEDCL averaged 28 days for feasibility in Q1, with only 61% within the 30-day mandate. Set realistic timelines with customers, communicate "4–6 weeks for DISCOM approval" rather than the scheme's mandated 30 days, to avoid post-sale disappointment.

3. 3

   UP: Focus on documentation quality

   With only 44% of feasibility reports processed within 30 days in Q1, UP DISCOMs are the most backlogged in our data. Perfect application documentation, complete, correct, ALMM-compliant, is the single biggest lever for reducing DISCOM return rates and delays.

4. 4

   All states: Verify ALMM compliance before procurement

   The January 2026 ALMM list revision removed several panel models. Before committing to any bulk panel order in Q2, verify the model is on the current MNRE ALMM list. A PM Surya Ghar installation using a non-ALMM panel will not be eligible for CFA, invalidating the customer's entire subsidy entitlement.

What to Do This Week

Q1 2026 data points to three concrete actions for installers right now:

1. Check your panels against the current ALMM list. Go to mnre.gov.in, find the current ALMM publication, and cross-check every panel model you plan to use in Q2 against it. If any model is not listed, stop ordering it for PM Surya Ghar jobs immediately.

2. Set your DISCOM expectation language. Based on the Q1 approval time data for your state, create a standardised WhatsApp message template that sets the correct DISCOM timeline for customers in your geography. If you are in UP, tell customers "6–8 weeks for DISCOM approval", not "30 days."

3. Build a Q1 backlog outreach list. Identify customers in your pipeline who have registered on the PM Surya Ghar portal but have not yet finalised an installer. These are the highest-intent leads for Q2. Reach out with a proposal this week, they are already in the subsidy mindset and ready to act.

4. Tag your pipeline by application status. Use QuickEstimate's pipeline management to tag every active lead by their PM Surya Ghar status: registered, DISCOM approved, installation done, subsidy pending. This immediately tells you where your Q2 priority follow-up effort should go.

5. Book a QuickEstimate demo if you want to see how the PM Surya Ghar subsidy auto-calculation works in the proposal generator, ensuring every proposal you send reflects the current MNRE CFA slabs, not a template that may have been built before the last scheme update.

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Frequently asked questions

How many PM Surya Ghar applications were received in Q1 2026?

The PM Surya Ghar portal recorded over 38 lakh new registrations in January–March 2026, bringing cumulative registrations to over 1.4 crore by March 2026 per MNRE and PIB data. Q1 2026 was the strongest registration quarter since the scheme's launch in February 2024.

Which state has the highest PM Surya Ghar application volume?

Gujarat consistently leads India in PM Surya Ghar application volumes, accounting for approximately 27% of national applications in Q1 2026. This is driven by high electricity bills, strong DISCOM infrastructure, and an established solar installer ecosystem. Rajasthan ranks second at approximately 18%, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh.

What is the Q1 Disbursement Gap in PM Surya Ghar?

The Q1 Disbursement Gap is the difference between applications approved and disbursements completed in Q1 2026. Across India, disbursements completed in Q1 represent approximately 55–60% of applications approved in the same quarter. This gap is highest in UP (around 42% completion rate) and lowest in Gujarat (approximately 76%). The gap represents a forward pipeline of subsidy disbursements that will flow in Q2.

What DISCOM approval timeline should I quote to customers?

This depends on your state. Gujarat DISCOM average is 11 days; Rajasthan 17 days; Madhya Pradesh 23 days; Maharashtra (MSEDCL) 28 days; UP 37 days. You should quote the 75th percentile time for your state, not the average, this means Gujarat customers can expect 2 weeks, Maharashtra customers 5–6 weeks, and UP customers 7–8 weeks.

What changed on the ALMM list in Q1 2026?

MNRE revised the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers in January 2026, updating panel model approvals and removing manufacturers who had not maintained certification. Installers should verify every panel model against the current ALMM list at mnre.gov.in before procurement for any PM Surya Ghar job. Installing a non-ALMM panel invalidates the customer's CFA entitlement.

How does Q1 2026 data affect Q2 and Q3 business planning?

Q1's elevated disbursement gap means Q2 will have a larger volume of customers completing subsidy disbursement, a positive for cash flow in fast-DISCOM states. Q1's record registration numbers mean Q2 has a large pool of high-intent, scheme-aware leads. And Q1's ALMM revision means Q2 procurement decisions must be made against the updated list. Combined, these factors make Q2 2026 one of the strongest opportunity quarters for installers in Gujarat and Rajasthan specifically.

Where can I find official PM Surya Ghar data?

Official PM Surya Ghar data is published at pmsuryaghar.gov.in and mnre.gov.in. PIB (pib.gov.in) publishes press releases on scheme milestones. Mercom India (mercomindia.com) and JMK Research (jmkresearch.com) publish independent market tracking reports with state-level analysis.