Solar Subsidy Eligibility in India 2026: Who Qualifies & Who Doesn't

You qualify for the PM Surya Ghar solar subsidy if you are a residential electricity consumer with a valid DISCOM connection, installing an on-grid rooftop solar system through an MNRE-empanelled vendor using BIS-certified equipment. There is no income cap. One subsidy per household, linked to your electricity consumer number.

Your property must meet these physical requirements:

• Roof ownership: You must own the roof where panels will be installed. Tenants need written landlord consent plus the electricity connection must be in the applicant's name
• Structural soundness: The roof must support the weight of solar panels (15–20 kg/sqm). Most RCC and concrete roofs qualify. Asbestos roofs may need structural assessment
• Shadow-free area: Minimum 100 sq ft of shadow-free roof space per kW. A 3 kW system needs ~300 sq ft of unshaded area
• Roof access: Safe access for installation and maintenance. Panels are mounted facing south at a 10–15° tilt for optimal output in India

For apartments, the housing society must pass a resolution authorising rooftop solar installation and allocating roof space to participating flat owners.

The solar system itself must meet MNRE technical standards:

• System type: Must be on-grid (grid-connected). Off-grid systems with batteries do not qualify for central subsidy
• Panel certification: Solar panels must carry BIS certification (IS 14286). International certifications like IEC alone are insufficient
• Inverter certification: Grid-tied inverters must be BIS-certified (IS 16169)
• Vendor empanelment: Installation must be done by a vendor registered on the PM Surya Ghar portal. Non-empanelled vendors cannot process your subsidy
• Minimum warranty: 25-year performance warranty on panels, 5-year warranty on inverter
• Net metering: System must be configured for net metering with the local DISCOM

These requirements are non-negotiable. Even one missing certification results in subsidy rejection.

→ Complete MNRE technical guidelines

These categories are explicitly excluded from PM Surya Ghar:

• Commercial and industrial consumers — Businesses should explore accelerated depreciation and commercial incentives
• Agricultural connections — Farmers are covered under PM-KUSUM scheme for solar pumps
• Off-grid installations — Battery-based standalone systems do not qualify
• Non-empanelled vendor installations — Even if the system meets all technical specs, subsidy is denied if the vendor is not registered
• Duplicate applications — Second application from the same consumer number is auto-rejected
• Consumers with outstanding DISCOM dues — Clear all arrears before applying

Apartment dwellers face additional requirements but are fully eligible:

1. Society resolution: The RWA or housing society must pass a formal resolution authorising solar installation on the common terrace
2. Roof allocation: Each participating flat owner gets a proportional roof space allocation. A 100-flat society with 10,000 sq ft of usable roof can allocate 100 sq ft per flat
3. Individual applications: Each flat owner applies separately on the PM Surya Ghar portal with their individual consumer number
4. Group net metering: Some DISCOMs offer group net metering where the entire building acts as one entity. Others require individual net meters per flat
5. Subsidy per flat: Each flat owner receives subsidy proportional to their installed capacity, up to the ₹78,000 cap

→ Solar for apartments — complete guide

Before starting the application process, verify your eligibility in 3 steps:

1. Check your electricity bill — Confirm it shows 'domestic' or 'residential' tariff category. The consumer number printed on the bill is what you'll use to register
2. Verify your DISCOM — Check if your DISCOM is active on the PM Surya Ghar portal. All major DISCOMs (MSEDCL, BESCOM, TPDDL, BSES, UHBVNL, etc.) are registered
3. Assess your roof — Ensure you have at least 100 sq ft of shadow-free roof space per kW. An installer can do a free site survey to confirm

Use our Subsidy Checker tool to instantly verify your eligibility and see the exact subsidy amount for your system size and state.

Solar Vipani's verified installers can confirm your eligibility during a free site assessment. They check roof space, structural suitability, shading, and DISCOM compatibility — and provide a quote with your exact subsidy amount.

Get a free site assessment and subsidy-inclusive quote →