PM Surya Ghar: How to Apply Online (2026)

Qbits warranty and service terms: Qbits public datasheets describe an expandable warranty but do not define a universal duration, remedy, registration deadline, service SLA, or exclusions. Obtain the current written terms for the exact model and sale before relying on a headline claim.

ALMM and inverter compliance: MNRE’s current ALMM page publishes solar PV module and cell lists, not an inverter list. Verify the inverter’s exact model documents and applicable scheme or DISCOM requirements separately.

Many Indian households search for how to apply for PM Surya Ghar online, and a significant number of them abandon the process midway because of confusing portal instructions, unclear document requirements, or unexpected DISCOM rejections. The scheme is genuinely generous: up to ₹78,000 in central subsidy, paid directly to the applicant’s bank account, for a rooftop solar system that eliminates or sharply reduces the monthly electricity bill. The application, however, has eight distinct stages that must be completed in sequence, each with its own set of requirements.

This guide walks through every stage of the PM Surya Ghar application process on pmsuryaghar.gov.in (from initial registration to subsidy credit) with the complete document checklist, a stage-by-stage timeline table, and the most common rejection reasons along with specific steps to avoid them.

Direct answer. To apply for PM Surya Ghar online, register on pmsuryaghar.gov.in with your Aadhaar-linked mobile number and electricity consumer number, submit rooftop details for DISCOM feasibility approval, choose an ALMM-listed empanelled installer, complete the installation, pass DISCOM inspection with net meter installation, upload the commissioning certificate, and receive the subsidy (up to ₹78,000) directly in your bank account, commonly reported as about 30 days after commissioning.

The scheme is formally named PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and was launched by the Government of India in February 2024 under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). It targets one crore households by 2027. Understanding the PM Surya Ghar programme structure (particularly the DISCOM-mediated verification flow) is essential before starting the application, because the subsidy is not paid until the local distribution company confirms successful installation.

What Is PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and Who Is Eligible

PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is a rooftop solar subsidy programme under which the Government of India provides direct-benefit transfers to residential consumers who install grid-connected rooftop solar systems. The scheme is administered jointly by MNRE and DISCOMs (Distribution Companies) in each state, and it has driven a sharp rise in demand for residential solar installation capacity among EPC firms across the country.

Eligibility criteria

The following criteria must be satisfied before a household can apply:

• Residential electricity consumer: the applicant must hold a valid residential electricity connection with their state DISCOM. Commercial or industrial connections are not eligible under this scheme.
• Ownership or written consent: the applicant must own the property or have a landlord NOC permitting rooftop installation.
• Aadhaar linkage: the mobile number used to register must be linked to the applicant’s Aadhaar card for OTP-based authentication.
• Bank account with NACH mandate: the subsidy is transferred via NACH (National Automated Clearing House) directly to the applicant’s bank account.
• No prior solar subsidy: the same premises must not have previously received a central government rooftop solar subsidy under any scheme.

Subsidy structure

State governments may offer additional subsidies on top of the central component. The subsidy is credited post-installation; the homeowner pays the full cost to the installer first and receives the subsidy as a bank transfer afterward.

₹78,000. The maximum central subsidy under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana for a 3 kW or larger residential rooftop system, paid directly to the applicant’s bank account after DISCOM verifies installation. Source - MNRE PM Surya Ghar Portal, 2026.

The PM Surya Ghar Application Checklist: Documents Required

Before beginning the online application, gather every document in the table below. Incomplete submissions are a leading cause of application delays and outright rejections.

Keep all documents ready in digital form (PDF preferred, under 2 MB per file) before starting the portal registration. The portal times out after inactivity, and re-uploading documents mid-session causes form errors.

PM Surya Ghar Online Application: Step-by-Step Process

This is the full eight-step PM Surya Ghar application process as structured on pmsuryaghar.gov.in. Each step must be completed before the next stage is accessible.

The PM Surya Ghar Application Checklist

1. Register on pmsuryaghar.gov.in: Visit https://pmsuryaghar.gov.in and click “Apply for Rooftop Solar.” Enter your state, your DISCOM name, and your electricity consumer number (found on your bill). Then enter your Aadhaar-linked mobile number to receive an OTP for authentication. Once the OTP is verified, set a password to create your account. Keep this login credential safe, it is required for every subsequent stage.

2. Fill rooftop and system details: After login, complete the application form with your roof area, preferred system size (1 kW, 2 kW, 3 kW, or higher based on your consumption), shadow-free roof area estimate, and building type. The portal auto-calculates the eligible subsidy amount based on the system size you enter. Upload the required documents: electricity bill, Aadhaar copy, property proof, and the bank mandate. Submit the application.

3. Receive DISCOM feasibility approval: Your local DISCOM reviews the application and the technical parameters: feeder load capacity, transformer capacity, and net metering availability in your area. This typically takes 2 to 7 working days. You will receive an SMS and email notification of the approval or rejection. If approved, you may proceed to choose an installer.

4. Choose an empanelled installer: After feasibility approval, select a DISCOM-empanelled installer for the work order. The subsidy requires an empanelled installer and modules that are on the ALMM list, so put the two questions in the ALMM section below to the installer before you sign. This stage typically takes 3 to 7 days. The portal locks out installer changes once this step is confirmed.

5. Install the solar system: The empanelled installer carries out the full installation: mounting structure, panel placement, DC wiring, AC wiring, inverter installation, earthing, and surge protection. A grid-connected on-grid inverter is used for PM Surya Ghar systems as these must export surplus power to the grid via net metering. The typical installation takes one to three days depending on system size and roof complexity.

6. DISCOM inspection and net meter installation: After the installer completes work, the installer applies for inspection through the portal. The DISCOM sends a technical officer to inspect the installation against safety and quality parameters. If the installation passes, the DISCOM replaces or upgrades the existing electricity meter to a bidirectional net meter. This stage can take 7 to 21 days depending on your DISCOM’s workload. During high-demand periods (particularly post-monsoon) delays of up to 30 days are reported in some states.

7. Submit the commissioning certificate online: Once the net meter is installed and the system is live, your installer provides a commissioning certificate on their company letterhead. Log in to the portal and upload this certificate along with the DISCOM’s net meter installation confirmation. This is the trigger event for subsidy processing.

8. Subsidy credited to bank account via NACH: After the DISCOM marks the application as complete on the backend, MNRE processes the subsidy amount and transfers it directly to the bank account you registered in Step 2. This is commonly reported as taking about 30 days from commissioning certificate submission (secondary reports; confirm on the portal).

Timeline: What Happens When

Planning the PM Surya Ghar timeline helps homeowners manage cash flow, since they pay the installer upfront and receive the subsidy later.

The most variable stage is Step 6 (DISCOM inspection). In states with high application volumes, inspection queues can stretch the timeline. Applicants in these states should submit the commissioning certificate as soon as possible after the net meter is installed to avoid further delays.

ALMM and inverter compliance are separate checks

For homeowners, verifying ALMM eligibility means asking the installer two specific questions before signing the work order:

Common Rejection Reasons and How to Avoid Them

Applications fail at three main checkpoints: portal submission, DISCOM feasibility review, and DISCOM inspection. Knowing the most frequent rejection triggers allows homeowners to take pre-emptive action.

At portal submission

• Consumer number mismatch: The electricity consumer number must match exactly as it appears on the bill, including any leading zeros. Double-check against the bill before entering.
• Document quality failure: Blurry images, scanned documents with shadow or glare, or files exceeding the portal’s size limit cause upload errors. Use a flat-bed scan or a good mobile scanner app at 300 dpi with proper lighting.
• Aadhaar-mobile mismatch: If the mobile number entered is not linked to Aadhaar, the OTP step fails. Visit an Aadhaar enrolment centre to update the mobile number linkage before applying.
• Wrong DISCOM selection: Some states have multiple DISCOMs serving different areas. Selecting the wrong DISCOM routes the application to the wrong queue. Confirm your DISCOM from your electricity bill header.

At DISCOM feasibility review

• Network capacity constraints: Some feeder areas are saturated and cannot absorb additional solar generation. In this case, the DISCOM may reject or defer the application. Applying for a smaller system size sometimes resolves this, as smaller systems export less surplus power.
• Roof area inconsistency: If the declared shadow-free roof area does not plausibly support the applied system size, the DISCOM officer may flag the application. As a rough guide, 1 kW of solar requires approximately 7 to 10 square metres of unshaded roof area.
• Duplicate application: If a previous application was submitted for the same consumer number and not formally closed, the system may reject the new application as a duplicate. Contact the DISCOM’s nodal officer to close the old application before resubmitting.

At DISCOM inspection

• Earthing and surge protection deficiency: DISCOM inspectors check earthing continuity, the presence of an AC-side DC injection protection device, and surge protection devices on both DC and AC strings. Ensure your installer follows the commissioning checklist in the solar inverter commissioning guide.
• Single-line diagram (SLD) mismatch: The as-installed configuration must match the SLD submitted to the DISCOM. Any deviation (different panel count, changed string configuration, relocated inverter) requires a revised SLD submission before inspection. A properly prepared CEIG-compliant electrical drawing at the design stage prevents this mismatch from occurring in the first place.
• Improper labelling: Inspectors in several states now check that DC isolators, AC isolators, and the inverter carry the correct safety labels. Ask your installer about labelling compliance before scheduling inspection.

PM Surya Ghar and Net Metering: What Changes After Installation

Once the net meter is installed, the household’s relationship with the grid changes meaningfully. The bidirectional net meter records both units imported from the grid and units exported to the grid. At the end of each billing cycle, the DISCOM calculates net units: imports minus exports. The homeowner pays only for net imports.

Net metering under PM Surya Ghar typically follows the state’s existing net metering regulation, which may cap the system size at the sanctioned load of the connection or at a fixed percentage of the connected transformer capacity. The net metering in India complete guide covers the billing mechanics and the state-by-state variation in carry-forward rules for export credits.

For most 3 kW residential systems in India receiving 4 to 5 peak sun hours per day, monthly generation is approximately 300 to 375 kWh. A household with a monthly bill of ₹2,500 to ₹4,000 (roughly 250 to 450 units) can expect to reduce their net import to near zero or even carry forward credits during summer months, with some grid import returning during monsoon when panel output dips.

1 crore households. The Government of India’s target for PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana by 2027, representing the world’s largest residential rooftop solar subsidy programme by number of beneficiaries. Source - MNRE Scheme Notification, 2024.

Early application and complete documentation matter: an incomplete application can be returned and may lose its place in the DISCOM’s queue.

After Subsidy: Monitoring, Maintenance, and Warranty

Receiving the subsidy is not the end of the homeowner’s engagement with the solar system. A well-maintained rooftop solar installation in India should deliver consistent generation for 20 to 25 years. The inverter, however, is typically the first component to require attention, which makes warranty terms and service access critical considerations.

Monitoring

Most modern on-grid inverters sold for PM Surya Ghar installations include Wi-Fi-based monitoring. Homeowners should verify that their inverter’s monitoring app provides:

• Daily and monthly generation data: to cross-check against the net meter reading.
• Grid connection status alerts: to detect grid outages and verify anti-islanding is functioning.
• Performance ratio tracking: to identify early-stage soiling or shading-induced generation loss.

Maintenance

The solar inverter commissioning process sets the baseline. Ongoing maintenance requirements for a residential PM Surya Ghar installation include:

• Panel cleaning: every 2 to 4 weeks during dusty months (October to May in north India).
• Inverter air-filter inspection: where applicable, quarterly.
• DC string insulation resistance check: annually by a qualified technician.
• Earthing continuity test: annually.

For a full maintenance schedule, the inverter maintenance guide for India provides month-by-month tasks suited to Indian climate conditions.

Warranty

The inverter warranty is the most financially consequential post-installation consideration. Inverter replacement outside warranty coverage costs ₹18,000 to ₹40,000 depending on the system size, which can substantially reduce the scheme’s net financial benefit. Homeowners should confirm before installation:

• warranty with a written remedy: not just a spare parts warranty.
• On-site service, not depot-only return.
• Authorised service partners within reachable distance.

Where Qbits Fits in the PM Surya Ghar Application

Three pages worth reviewing before finalising your installer and equipment:

• Authorised Service Partners: Search the current directory, then confirm partner status, location coverage, service scope, response process and fees in writing.

PM Surya Ghar Progress and What It Means for Applicants in 2026

Processing times vary by DISCOM and state, and no single national figure is published, so ask your DISCOM or vendor for the current inspection and commissioning timeline in writing and plan with a buffer.

The scheme’s budget allocation, MNRE’s empanelment of new installers, and state government co-funding arrangements are all evolving. Checking the PM Surya Ghar portal for the latest circulars and your state’s current DISCOM processing time estimates is advisable before finalising your application date. States such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha have expanded installer empanelment significantly in 2025–26, improving processing capacity.