PM Surya Ghar Subsidy in Uttar Pradesh: Step-by-Step Guide

What the scheme is

PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is a Government of India scheme that supports households in installing grid-connected rooftop solar. Its stated aim is to help a very large number of homes cut their electricity bills through their own roof-top generation, with central financial assistance paid for eligible residential systems.

The scheme runs through a national portal where you register, choose a vendor, and later submit your commissioning details and bank account for the subsidy. Details, targets and the exact amounts are published by the government, and they can be revised, so rely on the official portal for current figures.

How much subsidy can you expect?

The central assistance is calculated per kilowatt of installed capacity and is capped for larger systems. As published at the launch of the scheme, it is a fixed amount per kW for the first two kW and a smaller amount for the third kW, after which it stops increasing. A 3 kW system therefore earns the full central subsidy.

Uttar Pradesh has also announced an additional state-level subsidy for eligible households. Some installers combine the two figures in their marketing, which is why you may see a headline number larger than the central amount alone. The state amount, who qualifies and how long it lasts are decided by the state government and can change, so ask your installer to show you the current official notice and confirm it yourself on the portal.

The subsidy reduces the final cost of the system but does not replace the upfront payment. Most households pay the vendor first and receive the subsidy in their bank account later, so plan how you will finance the full cost until it arrives.

Who is eligible

The scheme is meant for residential consumers. In general you need to be an Indian citizen who owns a house with a roof suitable for solar and holds a valid electricity connection in your own name. The household should not have already received a central solar subsidy for the same connection.

Commercial connections such as shops, mills, workshops and institutions are generally outside the residential subsidy, even if the building is attached to your home. If your connection is registered as commercial, ask your DISCOM whether it can be classified differently, or evaluate solar on its bill savings alone.

Housing societies and resident welfare associations may have separate provisions for common facilities. If you live in an apartment, ask your society and the portal how common-area systems are treated before you apply.

Documents and details to keep ready

Gather these before you start, because the portal and your DISCOM will ask for them at different stages. Having them ready also avoids the common delay of an application stuck on a missing detail.

• A recent electricity bill showing your consumer number, name and sanctioned load.
• A mobile number linked to your identity documents, since one-time passwords are sent to it.
• An email address for portal communication.
• A bank account in the applicant's own name, with account number, IFSC and a cancelled cheque or passbook copy.
• Basic roof details and photographs of the proposed installation area.
• After installation: the commissioning report, photographs and the net meter details.

The process step by step

First you register on the portal by choosing your state, your DISCOM and entering your consumer number, mobile number and email. Then you log in and apply for rooftop solar. Your application is checked for technical feasibility by the DISCOM, and you receive approval to proceed.

Next you choose a vendor who is registered for the scheme in your DISCOM area. A good vendor visits the site, confirms the system size, gives a written quotation and installs the system. After installation, the vendor or you submit the installation details and apply for net metering. The DISCOM inspects the installation and replaces your meter with a bi-directional net meter.

Once the system is commissioned, a commissioning certificate is generated. You then submit your bank account details through the portal, and after verification the central subsidy is credited. The government has described a target time for this credit, but real timing depends on inspection and verification, so ask your installer for a realistic range for your area.

Choosing a vendor safely

Solar subsidies attract both good installers and opportunists. Check these points before you pay anyone.

• Confirm that the vendor is registered for the scheme in your DISCOM area on the official portal.
• Ask for a written quotation listing panel and inverter brands, wattage, warranty, and what is included.
• Be cautious of anyone who asks you to pay the full amount upfront or offers to guarantee the subsidy.
• Ask for addresses of earlier installations you can visit, and speak to those customers.
• Make sure the vendor files the net metering application with you and explains each stage.
• Keep copies of every receipt, document and application number.

Common reasons for delay

Delays usually come from small, avoidable issues: a mismatched name between the bill and the bank account, a mobile number that is not linked to the identity record, a roof that is not available as described, or a net meter that has not yet been installed. Another frequent issue is installing before the application is approved, which can make a system ineligible.

Follow the order of steps, check each approval on the portal, and keep your installer informed of any DISCOM message you receive. If something stalls for a long time, contact the DISCOM and the portal helpline with your application number instead of waiting indefinitely.

After the subsidy arrives: keep your records

Once the subsidy is credited, store your documents together: the quotation, payment receipts, warranty cards for the panels and inverter, the commissioning certificate, the net metering agreement and your application number. These papers prove ownership and are needed if you ever claim a warranty, transfer the property or apply to your DISCOM for a change.

It is also worth noting your normal daily generation in the first month. Compare it with the same month next year, and ask your installer to check the system if output falls without a weather reason. A well-maintained system keeps delivering savings for many years after the subsidy has been spent.

Rules change. If you are reading this months after it was written, open the official portal first and treat anything here as background.

• Keep digital and paper copies of every document.
• Note your installer's service contact and warranty periods.
• Record your first-month generation as a baseline.
• Recheck the official portal for any rule changes before you apply.