PM Surya Ghar Policy Updates 2025-2026

When the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana launched in February 2024, it was the largest residential solar scheme India had ever attempted. Since then, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued guidelines, circulars and office memoranda on subsidy, domestic content, module lists and the national portal. If you run an EPC business, every one of these changes can land on your pricing sheet and your proposal.

This article tracks the PM Surya Ghar rules we could verify against official documents (checked 31 Oct 2026): what the rules say, the dates on them, and what they mean for your next customer quote. Where we could not find an official source, we say so instead of guessing.

The policy changes are not bureaucratic noise. Each one shifts the Rs figure on your customer's proposal, and a proposal with a wrong subsidy number either erodes your margin when you absorb the difference, or kills the deal when the customer discovers the discrepancy at the DISCOM office. Let us walk through the full timeline.

The PM Surya Ghar Subsidy Slab Changes from 2024 to 2026

The central subsidy structure under PM Surya Ghar is set in the MNRE guidelines, and we found no notified change to the rates since 13 Feb 2024 in the version amended in July 2025. The slab your customer qualifies for determines how much of your system price they actually pay out of pocket. To work out the exact figure for a given system size and state instantly, surgepv.com built a PM Surya Ghar subsidy calculator that installers can plug proposal numbers into directly.

Original slab structure (February 2024 launch):

At launch the scheme set a three-tier subsidy (PIB, Cabinet approval, 29 Feb 2024), which the MNRE guidelines (amended July 2025) still carry:

• Up to 2 kW: Rs 30,000 per kW (total Rs 60,000)
• The third kW: Rs 18,000 (CFA is Rs 18,000 for each kW beyond 2 kW, up to 3 kW)
• Above 3 kW: no incremental subsidy beyond the 3 kW cap

This gave a maximum central subsidy of Rs 78,000 for a 3 kW system. The subsidy is released directly to the consumer's bank account after commissioning, not to the EPC.

What the guidelines clarify, 1: CFA follows the module capacity you install. CFA is calculated on the rated DC capacity of the modules, not the inverter size (clause 5(k)), up to the 3 kW ceiling. A 5 kW system gets the same Rs 78,000 as a 3 kW system. We found no rule in the guidelines that ties CFA to the sanctioned load, so do not promise or deny CFA on that basis without checking with your DISCOM. Read more on how to check PM Surya Ghar eligibility before you propose a system.

What the guidelines clarify, 2: states may add to the central subsidy. Clause 5(i) lets State and UT governments supplement the CFA with an additional subsidy, provided they follow the scheme guidelines, and says the process for paying the state component should be integrated with the National Portal. The size of any state top-up is set by that state, so look it up in the state's own order.

What the guidelines clarify, 3: special-category states get higher CFA. For the special-category States and UTs (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Ladakh, the North-Eastern states including Sikkim, A&N Islands and Lakshadweep), clause 5(h) sets Rs 33,000/kW for the first 2 kW and Rs 19,800 for the third kW. For 3 kW that is Rs 85,800, not Rs 93,600. This is in the guidelines themselves, not a separate circular.

If you want a detailed breakdown of the exact slab math for every system size, see our PM Surya Ghar subsidy slabs guide.

ALMM List Updates, What Changed and Why It Matters

The Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) is the MNRE list of solar modules (List-I) and, from 1 Jun 2026, solar cells (List-II) that government-linked projects must use. For PM Surya Ghar, the separate and stricter test is the Domestic Content Requirement (DCR): modules must be made from domestically manufactured cells, and use of non-DCR modules "in any form" makes the installation ineligible for CFA (guidelines, clause 5(m)).

The lists are governed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Here is what we could verify from MNRE documents:

13 Feb 2024 and July 2025: DCR is an essential condition. The CFA guidelines make domestically manufactured modules from domestically manufactured cells an essential condition. Consumers who forgo the subsidy under "Give It Up" are free to use non-DCR modules (clause 5(p)).

9 Dec 2024: ALMM List-II for solar cells announced. MNRE Office Memorandum No. 283/59/2024-GRID SOLAR says List-II of solar PV cells takes effect from 1 Jun 2026. After that date only modules using List-II cells remain in ALMM List-I, and a separate List-I(a) is kept for projects exempt from List-II. Read our ALMM list explained guide for the full context.

4 Aug 2026: MNRE clarification on List-II. MNRE OM No. 283/54/2026-GRID SOLAR says net-metering and open-access projects commissioned by 31 Dec 2026 are exempt from List-II for cells, though List-I for modules still applies. Residential consumers on net metering who choose "Give It Up" under the scheme are exempt till 31 Mar 2027 if they apply through the National Portal. The memorandum also says ALMM orders do not change the DCR provisions of any MNRE scheme. We did not find any official statement of a "Tier 1 / Tier 2" module system, so we have not described one.

Read the memoranda yourself. The exact exemptions, dates and conditions are in the OM text. If you quote a job that depends on an exemption, keep a copy of the OM and of how the application was made.

For manufacturer-specific compliance details, the ALMM Phase III module guide from Qbits Energy is a useful cross-check before you commit to a module brand.

PM Surya Ghar Portal Changes, Registration, Application Flow, and DISCOM Integration

The national portal at pmsuryaghar.gov.in is where every application runs. MNRE's Rooftop Solar Division circular of 11 Feb 2025 announced that the portal was being migrated to a new version, with online trainings for DISCOMs and vendors. We could not open the live portal from our checking machine (it blocks automated access), so we describe the process from the guidelines and MNRE's published manuals rather than from screenshots of the current screens.

Here is what the guidelines say about the flow:

Consumer application: Any consumer with a valid consumer account number applies on the portal, which generates an application ID. The consumer then chooses a vendor registered on the portal and can compare vendors (clauses 6(b), 6(c)).

Installation and DISCOM inspection: After installation, the consumer updates the system details and uploads documents including geo-tagged photographs, and the application moves to the DISCOM. The DISCOM physically inspects the system, signs the agreements and approves the application on the portal (clauses 6(j), 6(k)). The CFA is processed only after that physical verification.

Vendor profile and rating: Registered vendors create profiles on the portal with system specifications, prices and contacts, and the profile includes vendor rating and consumer feedback (clause 7(c)). We did not find an official rule that tags vendors as "low-activity" based on a number of commissionings, so do not tell customers that.

The full step-by-step of the current consumer application is covered in our PM Surya Ghar application process guide. For reasons why applications fail at each stage, see our PM Surya Ghar rejection reasons breakdown.

State-Level Top-Up Subsidies, Which States Added What, and When

Some states add their own subsidy on top of the central PM Surya Ghar grant, as clause 5(i) of the guidelines allows. We do not print a state-by-state table here because each top-up is set by that state's own order and changes, and we could not verify a current list from official sources. Look up your state's current order and show the stacked figure only where you have it in writing.

The PM Surya Ghar Subsidy Stack is the framework we use to explain this to installers:

The PM Surya Ghar Subsidy Stack

This is a three-layer framework that describes the total financial benefit a residential consumer can access:

• Layer 1, Central Subsidy: Rs 78,000 maximum for 3 kW, released to consumer's bank post-commissioning.
• Layer 2, State Top-Up: An additional state subsidy where your state offers one, with the amount and process set by the state.
• Layer 3, Concessional Loan: The guidelines envisage low-interest loans at repo plus 50 bps for residential systems up to 3 kW (clause 6(r)). PIB cited 5.75% a year and a 10-year tenure on 28 Jul 2026, so check each bank's current rate.

On an illustrative 3 kW system priced at an assumed Rs 1.85 lakh, the central subsidy alone brings the consumer outlay to Rs 1,07,000 before any state top-up.

Our state top-up subsidies guide covers individual states, but check its date against your state's current order before you quote. For how to explain EMI options to customers on top of these subsidies, see solar EMI options for customers.

Empanelment and Registration Requirements for Installers

Under the MNRE guidelines (amended July 2025), the scheme is implemented only through vendors registered on the National Portal, and a consumer must choose a registered vendor to get CFA (clause 7(a)). The guidelines say there is no tendering or rate discovery by DISCOMs to empanel vendors (clause 6(c)). The requirements below are what the guidelines state; we did not find official documents for the additional requirements that some sources describe, such as a performance bond or an annual renewal fee, so we do not list them.

1. 1

   Registration on the National Portal

   Vendors must register on the National Portal to take part. Consumers can get CFA only through a registered vendor, and registered vendors can create profiles showing their system specifications, prices and key contacts (clauses 7(a), 7(c)).

2. 2

   Registration levels

   Vendors can register with the state DISCOM or state agency for state-level registration, or with the National Programme Implementation Agency (NPIA) for national, multi-state or state-level registration. The documents each registering authority asks for are set by that authority, so confirm them with yours (clause 7(b)).

3. 3

   Free choice of vendor, no tendering

   The consumer is free to choose any registered vendor at mutually decided rates, and the portal compares vendors (clause 6(c)). Consumer and vendor may sign an agreement; the guidelines include a sample at Annexure 2.

4. 4

   Service duties and penalties

   Registered vendors must provide repair and maintenance free of cost for 5 years from commissioning and replace under-performing components in that period (clause 7(d)). A vendor can be de-registered or penalised after notice if systems are substandard or the guidelines are not followed (clause 7(e)).

For the complete empanelment process and what documents you need, see our PM Surya Ghar empanelled vendor guide.

Bank Partner and Financing Changes

The guidelines expect banks to offer standard low-interest loans for residential systems up to 3 kW at about repo plus 50 bps, with loan products published on the National Portal (clauses 6(q), 6(r)). PIB reported on 4 Aug 2026 that concessional loans had been sanctioned for 21.87 lakh applicants, and in a Rajya Sabha reply on 28 Jul 2026 gave the rate as 5.75% a year "for the present" with a 10-year tenure.

When you are closing a deal with a customer who cannot pay in full upfront, check which banks list the PM Surya Ghar loan on the portal and what each one requires. For a full walkthrough of the concessional loan process bank by bank, including which lenders currently approve fastest, see our dedicated guide.

Key financing policy changes:

• What banks publish: State Bank of India's PM Surya Ghar loan page (updated 19 Oct 2026) lists a maximum loan of Rs 2 lakh for systems up to 3 kW and Rs 6 lakh above 3 kW up to 10 kW, a minimum margin of 10% of project cost, a 6-month moratorium, and the subsidy credited to the customer's loan account. Other banks' terms differ, so read each bank's own page.
• Loan and subsidy together: If the customer takes a loan, the CFA is credited to the loan account (clause 6(s)(i)). Quote the customer's cash flow accordingly.
• Where we did not find official support: the figures that some sources give for bank counts, tenure changes, digital approval targets, or a direct IREDA rooftop loan at a fixed rate. We have left them out.

Pros and Cons of the Policy Evolution for Small EPCs

Not every rule helps smaller installers. The DCR condition, DISCOM verification before CFA, and the five-year service duty add overhead. At the same time, free choice of vendor, concessional loans, and the 15-day CFA processing clause make deals easier to close.

Key Circulars and Their Dates, Your Reference Cheatsheet

EPCs managing PM Surya Ghar installations need a quick reference for the official documents behind the rules. These are the ones we verified (checked 31 Oct 2026):

Document	Date	Subject	Business Impact
PIB, Cabinet approval	29 Feb 2024	PM Surya Ghar approved; CFA of Rs 30,000 per kW up to 2 kW and Rs 78,000 for 3 kW	Scheme launch; subsidy slabs set
MNRE guidelines for CFA to residential consumers	Amended July 2025	CFA structure, DCR, vendor duties, batteries, metering	Basis for every proposal
MNRE Rooftop Solar Division circular	11 Feb 2025	Trainings on the new version of the National Portal	Vendors and DISCOMs moved to the new portal
MNRE OM 283/59/2024-GRID SOLAR	9 Dec 2024	ALMM List-II for solar cells effective 1 Jun 2026	Module sourcing
MNRE OM 283/54/2026-GRID SOLAR	4 Aug 2026	ALMM List-II clarification; DCR unaffected	Exemption routes for net-metering jobs

What comes after March 2027? The guidelines set the implementation period to 31 Mar 2027 (clause 2(d)). When we checked on 31 Oct 2026 we found no official notification of a successor scheme or a redesign, only press talk, so we do not describe one here. See our breakdown of what is known about the scheme's next phase before you brief your sales team.

How Policy Changes Hit Your Sales Proposals

This is the operational core: every rule above has a direct translation to your proposal. If you do not track the documents, you can send proposals with yesterday's math and lose deals when customers do their own portal research.

Consider how the DISCOM Approval Triangle works in practice: every PM Surya Ghar installation passes three clearances, (1) technical feasibility (deemed accepted for systems up to 10 kW once your state or DISCOM has operationalised it; otherwise documents are uploaded), (2) physical inspection by the DISCOM against the portal checklist, with the metering agreement signed, and (3) approval on the portal, after which the CFA is processed within 15 days. A rule change can affect any of the three. Our 4-Gate disbursement timeline guide breaks down exactly how long each of these clearances typically takes and where delays cluster.

If a module does not meet the DCR condition, the installation is ineligible for CFA (clause 5(m)), and the guidelines make the vendor responsible for rectifying any deficiency that blocks CFA or commissioning (clause 7(d)). That can mean replacing modules at your own cost, which is why the module check belongs before the order, not after the install.

The fix is a locked proposal policy: use solar sales funnel best practices to ensure your proposal template and module sourcing are reviewed at the same time, every quarter.

For margin-level impact, see our solar business margins in India guide which covers how subsidy policy changes flow through to EPC profitability.

How Quickest Solar CRM Helps EPCs Stay Current with PM Surya Ghar Changes

Most EPC owners read the circulars. The problem is that after every change you have to update three things: the subsidy line on your proposal template, the module brand list your sales team can quote, and the timeline you give customers for subsidy receipt. Without a system, this leaks through.

Quickest Solar CRM can help you keep this in one place. It applies the PM Surya Ghar subsidy in the proposal, and your admin sets the price list and margin, so your team starts from the same numbers. You still need to check each rule yourself and update your terms and module list when a rule changes.

• Proposal Generator -- branded proposal PDF with your logo, items, photos and terms, with the PM Surya Ghar subsidy applied in the proposal. Check the figure against the current guidelines before you share it.
• Quotation System -- keep your quoted items and prices in an admin-set price list with your margin, so every rep quotes from the same list. Keep the list limited to modules you have checked yourself.
• Pipeline Management -- use customisable lead stages and follow-up reminders to track which customers are waiting at which DISCOM stage, so you can chase stalled applications before the customer complains.
• WhatsApp Follow-up -- share an updated proposal PDF on WhatsApp with warm leads when a subsidy detail changes in your area, using saved message templates.

What to Do This Week If You Are an Active PM Surya Ghar EPC

Three actions that protect your margin and your empanelment status right now:

1. Audit your module stock against the current ALMM list. Check the current lists on MNRE and the cell source of every module brand in your warehouse against the DCR condition. If you are unsure about a brand, stop quoting it for PM Surya Ghar jobs until you have confirmed its status.

2. Update your proposal template with the current state top-up for your area, if there is one. If your state offers a top-up, your proposal should show the stacked subsidy only where you have the state order in writing, and it should always show the central amount separately.

3. Check your registration status. Check your registration status on the National Portal and with your state DISCOM or nodal agency, and confirm what validity and renewal terms apply to you. A lapsed registration means consumers cannot choose you for CFA.

Frequently asked questions

What is the current maximum PM Surya Ghar central subsidy in 2026?

The central subsidy (CFA) is Rs 78,000 for a system of 3 kW or more, per the MNRE guidelines amended July 2025 (checked 31 Oct 2026). The structure is Rs 30,000/kW for the first 2 kW (Rs 60,000 total), plus Rs 18,000 for the third kW. For special-category States and UTs (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Ladakh, the North-Eastern states including Sikkim, A&N Islands and Lakshadweep) the rates are Rs 33,000/kW and Rs 19,800, which is Rs 85,800 for 3 kW. There is no additional CFA beyond 3 kW, and state top-ups, where they exist, are set by each state.

Has the PM Surya Ghar subsidy been reduced since launch?

We found no notified reduction. The CFA rates in the MNRE guidelines amended July 2025 are the same Rs 30,000/kW and Rs 18,000 that applied from 13 Feb 2024. We could not verify claims of a January 2025 confirmation or of later central top-ups, so we do not repeat them. Check the current guidelines before you quote.

What happens if an installer uses a non-ALMM module for PM Surya Ghar?

The installation is not eligible for CFA if non-DCR modules are used "in any form" (guidelines, clause 5(m)). DCR means domestically manufactured modules made from domestically manufactured cells, and ALMM orders do not relax it. The vendor is responsible for rectifying any deficiency that blocks CFA (clause 7(d)), and a vendor can be de-registered or penalised after notice for non-compliance (clause 7(e)). Check the module's cell source and the current MNRE lists before you finalise procurement.

Do state top-up subsidies get released automatically along with the central subsidy?

Not necessarily. The central subsidy is released to the consumer (to the consumer's bank account, or to the loan account if the consumer took a loan) through an e-token after the DISCOM has physically verified and approved the system, and is processed within 15 days of DISCOM approval (guidelines, clauses 6(p), 6(s), 6(t)). The guidelines say the state component should be integrated with the National Portal (clause 5(i)), but we found no official timeline for state top-ups, so check your state's order.

How often does the ALMM list get updated?

We did not find an official fixed schedule, so do not assume one. MNRE issues ALMM orders and office memoranda as needed (for example the 9 Dec 2024 OM on List-II for solar cells, effective 1 Jun 2026, and the 4 Aug 2026 clarification). Check the MNRE lists before you finalise any module order, and keep a dated copy of the list you relied on.

Do PM Surya Ghar vendors have to renew their empanelment every year?

We found no annual-renewal rule in the MNRE guidelines (amended July 2025). Under those guidelines, the scheme is implemented only through vendors registered on the National Portal, with registration through the state DISCOM or agency, or through the NPIA for national or multi-state registration (clauses 7(a), 7(b)). Confirm the validity period and any renewal documents with your registering authority.

Can a solo installer without a company registration get registered?

The MNRE guidelines do not list the business types or certifications a vendor needs. They say vendors register on the National Portal through the state DISCOM or agency, or through the NPIA, and that each registering authority sets its own procedure (clause 7(b)). Ask your state DISCOM or nodal agency what documents it requires, including GST registration and any technical certification.

How do I find out which banks are live for PM Surya Ghar loans in my state?

The loan products of banks and financial institutions are published on the PM Surya Ghar National Portal, and the consumer can choose one through the portal (guidelines, clauses 6(q), 6(r)). Banks are expected to offer loans for systems up to 3 kW at about repo plus 50 bps. Which banks are active, and at what rate, differs, so check each bank's own PM Surya Ghar page, for example State Bank of India's, and the portal.