Documents Checklist for a Solar Subsidy Application

Why a document checklist saves weeks

Most delays in a household subsidy application come from small paperwork mismatches, not from the government: a name spelt differently on the bill and the bank account, a mobile number that is not linked to anything, a photograph that does not show the whole system. Each mismatch can send the file back for correction, and each round trip costs days or weeks. Preparing before you start avoids most of this.

This guide lists the documents and details households commonly need for the rooftop solar subsidy under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, in the order you will need them. It is general guidance. The government sets the portal's required fields, accepted documents and steps, and can change them, so use this list to prepare and follow the official portal.

We are not a government agency and cannot approve or guarantee a subsidy. Eligibility and amounts are set by the scheme, and you should confirm them on the official site.

Before you register: the basics

Start with the connection details. You need your latest electricity bill, your consumer account number and the name of your DISCOM. The applicant should be the consumer named on the connection, and the subsidy scheme is designed for residential connections. If the connection is in someone else's name, such as a late parent, a previous owner or a landlord, resolve that first, as explained below.

You also need a working mobile number and an email address. Registration usually sends one-time passwords to the mobile number and may link it to the consumer account, so use a number you control and can keep for a few years, since status messages and queries come to it. Keep your phone nearby while you register.

• Latest electricity bill showing consumer number and name.
• Name of your DISCOM and your electricity sub-division, as shown on the bill.
• A working mobile number that you control, and an email address.
• Confirmation that the connection is residential and the consumer is the applicant.

Identity and bank details

Have your identity proof ready. Registration normally asks for identity details, and in many cases Aadhaar is used for verification, but follow the portal's current instructions on what is required or optional. Keep a scanned copy or a clear photograph of the documents, since you may be asked to upload files.

The bank account is where the subsidy is credited, and it should be in the applicant's own name. Keep the account number, the IFSC code and a copy of a cancelled cheque or the first page of the passbook showing your name. Check that the name on the bank record matches the name on the electricity bill, including spelling and initials. A mismatch is a common reason for a payment to be held up.

Do not give your bank card PIN, passwords or one-time passwords to anyone, including an installer. A genuine process never needs them. If someone asks for them, stop and contact the official helpline.

Roof and site details

The portal and the DISCOM may ask for details about the roof and the planned system: the roof area available, the capacity you want and the kind of roof. Your installer usually helps with measurements and the technical details the form asks for, but you should check them for accuracy, because errors can cause trouble at inspection.

Take clear photographs of the roof and the site before work starts. Photos taken at the start prove the original state, and photos taken after installation prove the work done. Keep them in a folder on your phone with the date. Our roof assessment checklist explains what to look at before installation.

If the roof does not belong to you alone, as in a flat or a shared building, you may need permission from the owner or the society. Get it in writing, and keep a copy with the application papers.

If the connection is not in your name

This is the most frequent obstacle. The application is normally made by the consumer named on the connection. If the bill is in your father's or mother's name, they can apply, but the subsidy goes to a bank account in the applicant's name, so the correct person must be involved from the start. If the person has passed away or the house was bought from a previous owner, you will usually need to get the connection transferred to your name.

A name change or transfer is a separate request to the DISCOM, with its own forms, such as proof of ownership or a legal heir document, and its own fee and timeline. Start this early, as it can take longer than the solar installation itself. Ask your sub-division office for the current list of documents. Do not install solar first and hope to fix the name later, because the subsidy and net metering both depend on the consumer details.

• Apply a name change or transfer request to the DISCOM before you plan solar.
• Keep ownership proof of the property, such as a sale deed or tax receipt, ready.
• For a legal heir case, ask the sub-division office what proof they require.
• Keep a copy of the transfer application and receipt.

Documents during installation and net metering

After you register and choose an installer, the process moves to technical approval, installation, inspection and net metering. Keep a file for each step. Typical items include the installer's work order and quotation, the technical feasibility or approval from the DISCOM, the purchase invoice and a bill of materials listing panel and inverter brands and serial numbers.

Before the system is switched on, the DISCOM inspects it and installs a net meter. Our net metering application checklist for Uttar Pradesh lists the steps. Make sure you receive the inspection report, the net meter number and the date of commissioning. These details are needed to claim the subsidy.

After installation: what to keep for the subsidy claim

When the system is commissioned, the process asks for proof that it was installed as declared. Commonly this means a commissioning report, photographs of the installed system, details of the net meter and the invoice, uploaded on the portal by you or your installer. Check each upload for clarity and completeness, and confirm that the serial numbers of panels and inverter match the invoice.

After verification, the subsidy is credited to the bank account you provided. Timelines vary, and delays are usually caused by data mismatches, not by the system. Keep your application number and your phone handy, and check status on the portal. If something is held up, the portal's helpline and your DISCOM can tell you what is pending.

• Commissioning report and DISCOM inspection report.
• Photographs of the installed array, inverter, earthing and the net meter.
• Invoice with panel and inverter serial numbers.
• Net meter number, installation date and application number.
• Bank details exactly as submitted on the application.

Mistakes that delay or block the subsidy

A few avoidable errors cause most rejections and delays. Reading the list below before you start takes two minutes and can save weeks.

• Names that differ between the bill, ID and bank account.
• An inactive or incorrect mobile number, so one-time passwords never arrive.
• Starting installation before getting the needed approvals.
• Using an installer or equipment that is not accepted under the scheme's current rules.
• Poor photographs or missing serial numbers in the commissioning documents.
• Paying large advances to an agent who promises to arrange approval.

Where to get official help

The official portal, pmsuryaghar.gov.in, is the source for current steps, forms and amounts, and it provides a helpline for queries. Your DISCOM's sub-division office can help with the connection side. Avoid unofficial websites and callers who ask for fees or personal details. You do not need an agent to apply.

For help preparing the application and a written quotation, use the quotation form on our home page. We will explain which documents you need. Approvals and subsidy amounts are the government's decision, and we do not promise them.