The Government of India, through the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), has introduced a new initiative titled “Model Solar Village” as a key component of the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. The operational guidelines for this initiative were officially notified on 9th August 2024. The initiative aims to promote solar energy adoption across rural India by transforming villages into self-reliant solar-powered communities.
The ‘Model Solar Village’ program is designed to create one model solar village in each district across India. These model villages will serve as examples for neighbouring communities, demonstrating the viability and benefits of transitioning to renewable energy. The scheme is backed by a total financial outlay of ₹800 crore, with each selected village receiving a central financial assistance grant of ₹1 crore.
Villages eligible for participation in this initiative must meet specific criteria, including being a revenue village with a population exceeding 5,000, or 2,000 in special category states. The selection process is competitive, with villages assessed based on their installed distributed renewable energy (RE) capacity six months after being declared potential candidates by the District Level Committee (DLC).
The village that demonstrates the highest RE capacity within each district will be awarded the central financial assistance grant of ₹1 crore. The implementation of this scheme will be overseen by the state Renewable Energy Development Agency under the supervision of the DLC, ensuring that the selected villages effectively transition to solar-powered communities.
The ‘Model Solar Village’ initiative is a vital component of the broader PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, which was approved by the Government of India on 29th February 2024. The overarching goal of the Yojana is to increase solar rooftop capacity and empower residential households to generate their own electricity, thereby reducing dependency on conventional power sources.
With a total outlay of ₹75,021 crore, the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana is set to be implemented until the fiscal year 2026-27. The introduction of the ‘Model Solar Village’ component aligns with the government’s commitment to fostering sustainable development and energy security in rural India.
This initiative is expected to significantly boost solar energy adoption across the country, enabling villages to become self-sufficient in their energy needs and contributing to India’s ambitious renewable energy targets.
