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Informist, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026

 

NEW DELHI – The government is exploring utility-led models in coordination with state governments to expand access to rooftop solar, especially for households that lack adequate roof space or find installations unaffordable even after subsidies, New and Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Wednesday.

 

The government is considering a model in which power distribution companies - utilities - rather than individual households, would take the lead in installing and managing rooftop solar systems. The move aims to ensure that the benefits of the rooftop solar push reach a wider consumer base as India accelerates its clean energy transition, Joshi said, addressing the Business Standard's Manthan Summit in New Delhi.

 

India's rooftop solar sector has seen rapid expansion, with around 3 million installations generating nearly 14 gigawatts of clean energy in just two years, he said. Describing the scale of the rollout as "unprecedented", Joshi said the government would further "scale up and speed up" the programme.

 

The surge has been driven by the flagship Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, launched in early 2024 with a target to empower 10 million households with solar systems. More than 3 million homes have already installed solar panels under the scheme, lowering electricity bills and strengthening energy self-reliance, according to a recent Ministry of New and Renewable Energy release.

 

On the manufacturing front, Joshi said India's solar module capacity has crossed 144 gigawatts, making the country self-sufficient and even surplus. Imports have declined by over 50%, and he expects them to fall by 70–80% this year. Under the Production Linked Incentive scheme for high-efficiency solar photovoltaic modules, domestic capacity is expanding rapidly, he added.  End

 

Reported by Pallavi Singhal

Edited by Saji George Titus

 

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