UP Leads Rooftop Solar Push with 90,000+ Installations in Lucknow, Expands Vendor Base to 6,000 Under PM Surya Ghar Scheme

Addressing a session during the 18th Civil Services Day at Vigyan Bhawan, Shri Narendra Bhooshan, Secretary, Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development, highlighted Uttar Pradesh’s growing leadership in India’s renewable energy landscape, driven by the implementation of the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.

Speaking under the theme “Viksit Bharat: Citizen-Centric Governance and Last Mile Delivery,” Shri Bhooshan noted that a dedicated session on accelerating India’s net-zero pathway through the scheme witnessed extensive deliberations on its successful rollout across states.

He emphasized that the initiative is playing a dual role—enhancing energy efficiency while empowering citizens by transforming them from electricity consumers into active energy producers. This shift, he said, is gaining strong traction in Uttar Pradesh, where rooftop solar installations are increasingly being adopted across rural households as a symbol of economic empowerment.

Highlighting employment generation, Shri Bhooshan stated that the state has significantly expanded its vendor ecosystem from just 60 to nearly 6,000 participants. Through targeted initiatives such as Surya Mitra training programs and the Mukhyamantri Yuva Yojana, youth have been provided access to financing and entrepreneurial opportunities, enabling them to emerge as micro-vendors with improved income levels.

The scheme’s implementation is being closely monitored through integration with the Chief Minister’s Dashboard, allowing daily oversight at the highest administrative level. At the district level, competitive performance tracking led by young officers has further accelerated deployment.

In terms of regional progress, Lucknow has emerged as the top-performing city nationwide with around 90,000 rooftop solar installations, followed by Varanasi with approximately 40,000 installations. The scheme has also demonstrated strong penetration in rural and aspirational districts.

Addressing implementation challenges, Shri Bhooshan noted that supply chain constraints were mitigated through coordinated efforts involving leading solar companies and financial institutions, ensuring continuity in project execution.

He concluded by underscoring that achieving India’s net-zero targets will require a balanced approach—boosting demand while simultaneously strengthening supply-side capabilities—anchored in a citizen-centric governance model.