Government Of India Announces Operational Guidelines For ‘Model Solar Village’ Initiative Under PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has officially released the guidelines for the implementation of the ‘Model Solar Village’ component under the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. This initiative aims to promote solar energy adoption and enable village communities across India to become self-reliant in meeting their energy needs.

Under the scheme, each district in India will develop one Model Solar Village, with a total financial outlay of ₹800 crore allocated for this component. Each selected Model Solar Village will receive ₹1 crore to support the transition to solar power.

Villages must meet specific criteria to qualify. They must be revenue villages with populations exceeding 5,000 or 2,000 for special category states. The selection process is competitive, with villages assessed on their renewable energy capacity six months after being declared potential candidates by the District Level Committee (DLC).

The village in each district with the highest renewable energy capacity will receive a ₹1 crore grant as central financial assistance. The implementation of this scheme will be overseen by the State/UT Renewable Energy Development Agency under the supervision of the DLC, ensuring that selected villages transition effectively to solar-powered communities, and setting an example for others.

Approved on February 29, 2024, the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana aims to increase solar rooftop capacity and empower residential households to generate their electricity. With an outlay of ₹75,021 crore, the scheme is set to be implemented until FY 2026-27.

Key Objectives of the ‘Model Solar Village’ Component:

• Solarize one village per district to promote solar rooftops in India.
• Provide clean and green energy access to village communities.
• Empower villages to become self-reliant in their energy needs, reducing reliance on utility companies.
• Develop 24×7 solar-powered villages, covering all households and public areas, to serve as models for other villages.
• Promote technologies such as solar-based home lighting systems, solar water systems, solar pumps for agriculture, and solar streetlights.

Eligibility Criteria:

• The village must be a revenue village with a population size of more than 5,000 (2,000 for special category states).
• Villages will compete based on the total distributed renewable energy capacity installed within six months after being declared potential candidates by the DLC.

Implementation and Monitoring:

• The scheme will be implemented by the State Renewable Energy Development Agency or another entity nominated by the State/UT Government.
• The DLC will identify candidate villages and oversee the competition to select the Model Solar Village in each district.
• Extensive mobilization and awareness campaigns will be conducted to encourage solar installations.

Funding and Support:

• Each Model Solar Village will receive a ₹1 crore grant.
• Funds will be used to make the village self-sufficient in meeting its electricity needs, covering agricultural, residential, commercial, and government sectors.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is committed to promoting renewable energy and ensuring the success of this initiative, which will play a crucial role in India’s transition to sustainable energy sources.