Modi announces new rooftop solar power scheme

NEW DELHI: After the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, announced ‘Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana’ scheme that aims to install rooftop solar power systems for one crore households.

“All the devotees of the world always get energy from the light of Suryavanshi Lord Shri Ram. Today, on the auspicious occasion of consecration in Ayodhya, my resolution got further strengthened that the people of India should have their own solar roof top system on the roof of their houses,” Modi posted on social platform X.

He further added, “The first decision I have taken after returning from Ayodhya is that our government will launch “Pradhanmantri Suryodaya Yojana” with the target of installing rooftop solar on one crore houses. This will not only reduce the electricity bill of the poor and middle class but will also make India self-reliant in the energy sector.”

This isn’t the first scheme for promoting the installation of rooftop solar power systems. In 2014, the Modi government launched the Rooftop Solar Programme which aimed to achieve a cumulative installed capacity of 40,000 megawatts (MW) or 40 gigawatts (GW) by 2022. However, this target couldn’t be achieved. As a result, the government extended the deadline from 2022 to 2026. The Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana seems to be a new attempt to help reach the target of 40 GW rooftop solar capacity.