For Prelims: Rooftop Solar System, Grid-Connected Solar System, Inverter, Subsidy, Scheme Name, Total Applications in Bihar, Installed Units in Bihar, Total Installed Capacity in Bihar
For Mains: Rooftop solar adoption, energy transition, subsidy design, implementation bottlenecks, financial inclusion in renewable energy
Source:
Dainik Bhaskar
5 facts for one-day exams
SSC, railway, police and teaching exams ask direct questions like these.
- PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana provides rooftop solar for households.
- Bihar received 3.83 lakh applications; only 50,256 (13%) installed.
- Total installed capacity in Bihar is 148.03 MW.
- Subsidies worth ₹244.13 crore have been released in Bihar.
- Loan interest rate under the scheme is 5.75%.
Why in the news?
Under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, Bihar received 3.83 lakh rooftop solar applications but only 13% (50,256) have been installed, mainly due to slow supply of 1.1 kW inverters. The scheme provides central and state subsidies, and 28.3% of loan applications are being rejected by banks.
Summary
- PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana aims to provide free electricity to households through rooftop solar panels in Bihar.
- Of 3,83,520 applications received in Bihar, only 50,256 (13%) have been installed, with 3,33,264 (86.9%) awaiting installation.
- Bihar has installed 50,256 rooftop solar systems with a total capacity of 148.03 MW and has released ₹244.13 crore in subsidies.
- 28.3% of loan applications for the scheme are being rejected by banks, though the scheme mandates loans at 5.75% interest.
Highlights
PM Surya Ghar Scheme in Bihar
Bihar has received 3.83 lakh applications for rooftop solar panels, but only 13% (50,256) have been installed due to inverter supply delays.
Loan Rejection by Banks
28.3% of loan applications under the scheme are being rejected by banks, despite a mandated 5.75% interest rate, hindering adoption.
Inverter Supply Bottleneck
Slow supply of 1.1 kW inverters is delaying grid connection for installed solar panels, reducing the visible data on the national portal.
Key Analysis and Impact
The low installation rate (13%) in Bihar highlights implementation challenges: inverter supply chain issues, bank loan rejections (28.3%), and coordination delays between state agencies and vendors. The slow progress impacts the scheme's target of providing free electricity to BPL families. The 1.1 kW inverter shortage is a critical bottleneck for grid-connected systems, affecting the state's performance on the national portal.
Way Forward
The Bihar Chief Secretary has directed agencies to expedite rooftop solar installations. Addressing the inverter supply chain, streamlining bank loan approvals, and enhancing vendor capacity are essential. The state government's additional subsidy of ₹10,000-20,000 per household may improve adoption rates if implementation hurdles are resolved.
Subsidy for BPL vs General Households
| Household Type | System Capacity | Central Subsidy | State Subsidy |
|---|---|---|---|
| BPL | 1.1 kW | ₹33,000 | ₹10,000 |
| General | 3 kW | ₹78,000 | ₹20,000 |
Bihar connection
Background GK
Textbook concepts you need to understand this news
- Rooftop Solar System
- A photovoltaic system that generates electricity by capturing sunlight using solar panels mounted on the roof of a residential or commercial building.
- Grid-Connected Solar System
- A solar power system that is connected to the main electricity grid, allowing excess power to be fed back into the grid and drawing power when solar generation is insufficient.
- Inverter
- An electronic device that converts direct current (DC) electricity from solar panels into alternating current (AC) electricity used by home appliances and the grid.
- Subsidy
- A financial grant or contribution provided by the government to reduce the cost of a product or service, in this case to promote adoption of rooftop solar systems.
Facts to remember
Tap a card to see the answer. Try to recall it first.
How exams will ask this
- Data: 3.83 lakh applications, 50,256 installed (13%), 148.03 MW capacity, ₹244.13 crore subsidy released in Bihar.
Don't make this mistake!
Examiners may ask about the 'percentage of applications installed' (13%) vs 'percentage awaiting installation' (86.9%). They may also swap the subsidy amounts for BPL vs general households: BPL gets ₹33,000 central + ₹10,000 state for 1.1 kW; general gets ₹78,000 central + ₹20,000 state for 3 kW.
Write these in mains answers
- Rooftop solar adoption, energy transition, subsidy design, implementation bottlenecks, financial inclusion in renewable energy
Stuck? Get it in one tap
PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is a government scheme that helps households install solar panels on their roofs to generate free electricity. In Bihar, many people applied but only a few have been able to get panels installed because the right kind of inverter is not available. Banks are also rejecting many loan applications, making it harder for people to afford the system.
- PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana provides rooftop solar for households.
- Bihar received 3.83 lakh applications; only 50,256 (13%) installed.
- Total installed capacity in Bihar is 148.03 MW.
- Subsidies worth ₹244.13 crore have been released in Bihar.
- Loan interest rate under the scheme is 5.75%.
- Economy: Energy and renewable energy schemes
- Geography: Solar energy potential in India
Related concepts: Rooftop Solar System, Grid-Connected Solar System, Inverter, Subsidy
Practice questions
Pick an answer, then read the explanation.
- Q1Hard
Consider the following statements regarding PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana in Bihar:
- 1.A total of 3.83 lakh applications have been received for rooftop solar installation.
- 2.The scheme provides a loan at 5.75% interest rate to households.
- 3.Only 13% of the applications have been installed, with the total installed capacity being 244.13 MW.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: 3.83 lakh applications were received. Statement 2 is correct: the scheme provides loans at 5.75% interest. Statement 3 is incorrect: the installed capacity is 148.03 MW, not 244.13 MW; ₹244.13 crore is the subsidy amount released, not the capacity.
- Q2Medium
What is the total subsidy amount released under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana in Bihar as per the November 2026 data?
Explanation: Subsidies worth ₹244.13 crore have been released in Bihar under the scheme; the installed capacity is 148.03 MW.
- Q3Medium
What is the primary objective of the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana?
Explanation: The scheme's name itself indicates 'Muft Bijli' (free electricity). It targets residential households, not industrial or commercial users. Export or large-scale plants are not its objective.
Frequently asked questions
1. What is PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana?
It is a central government scheme to provide free electricity to households by installing rooftop solar panels, with capital subsidies from the central and state governments.
2. How many applications for rooftop solar have been received in Bihar?
Bihar has received 3.83 lakh applications under the PM Surya Ghar scheme, of which only 50,256 (13%) have been installed as of November 2026.
3. Why are rooftop solar installations slow in Bihar?
The main reason is the slow supply of 1.1 kW inverters needed for grid connection, along with 28.3% of loan applications being rejected by banks.
4. What subsidies are available under the scheme for BPL households?
For BPL households, the central government provides ₹33,000 and the state government provides ₹10,000 for a 1.1 kW rooftop solar system.
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- Original10 November 2026 · Read story
