TFP Bureau, New Delhi, August 12, 2024: The Government of India has issued operational guidelines for the implementation of the ‘Model Solar Village’ component under the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy announced these guidelines on August 9, 2024, detailing the steps to promote solar energy adoption in villages across the country.
As part of this initiative, one Model Solar Village will be established in each district of India, aimed at empowering village communities to become self-reliant in meeting their energy needs through solar power. A total financial outlay of ₹800 crore has been allocated for this scheme component, with ₹1 crore designated for each selected village.
To be eligible, a village must be a revenue village with a population of over 5,000 (or 2,000 in special category states). The selection process involves a competitive assessment where villages are evaluated based on their installed renewable energy capacity six months after being declared a potential candidate by the District Level Committee (DLC).
The village in each district with the highest renewable energy capacity will be awarded a central financial assistance grant of ₹1 crore. The State/UT Renewable Energy Development Agency will oversee the implementation of the scheme under the supervision of the DLC, ensuring that selected villages effectively transition to solar power and serve as models for other communities nationwide.
The PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, approved on February 29, 2024, aims to boost solar rooftop capacity and empower households to generate their own electricity. The scheme has a budget of ₹75,021 crore and is set to be implemented through FY 2026-27.
