Bihar adds up to Rs.20,000 state subsidy for rooftop solar

Bihar is adding a state subsidy of up to ₹20,000 for households installing rooftop solar under the Centre's PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said on Tuesday.

The additional assistance will be provided on top of the central subsidy. According to the Bihar government's Energy Department, the state approved additional financial assistance for residential consumers under the PM Surya Ghar scheme in an August 14 resolution.

The state assistance is structured at ₹10,000 per kW, subject to a maximum contribution of ₹20,000 per consumer. That means an eligible household installing a 1 kW system can receive ₹10,000 in additional state support, while systems of 2 kW and 3 kW can receive up to ₹20,000.

For a 3 kW rooftop system, the Centre's PM Surya Ghar subsidy can reach ₹78,000. With Bihar's additional ₹20,000 contribution, the combined financial assistance can therefore reach ₹98,000 for an eligible consumer.

The state support is part of Bihar's broader push to increase household adoption of rooftop solar. The state government has also launched the Mukhyamantri Solar Protsahan Yojana, while an awareness campaign involving nine Solar Raths is being used to spread information about rooftop solar and the available financial assistance.

The latest announcement also comes as Bihar expands implementation of the national rooftop-solar programme. Earlier this year, the state government set a target to install solar systems on the rooftops of 2.5 lakh Kutir Jyoti consumers, according to the Bihar Chief Minister's office.

For households considering solar, the additional state assistance reduces the amount that has to be funded after the central subsidy, although the actual upfront cost will still depend on the system selected, installation costs and the consumer's eligibility.

The state government's support also means the headline subsidy figure is higher than the central PM Surya Ghar assistance alone. For an eligible 3 kW installation, the maximum combined support is ₹98,000.

The Bihar Energy Department's August resolution indicates that the additional assistance is being provided specifically to residential consumers under PM Surya Ghar. Further implementation details and eligibility requirements should therefore be checked against the applicable state scheme before installation.

Sources

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/bihar-govt-to-provide-extra-subsidy-for-rooftop-solar-cm/articleshow/134416542.cms

https://betastate.bihar.gov.in/energy/DyPageView?PageTitleID=1832

https://cm.bihar.gov.in/users/viewnews.aspx?id=4220

https://patnapress.com/bihar-25000-solar-beneficiaries-additional-assistance-mukhyamantri-solar-protsahan-yojana/