Rooftop solar installations across west Bengal, as part of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojna solar rooftop scheme, have shot up by nearly seven times since May 2026, coinciding with the change in the state government, while the total subsidy released for the state is now more than eight times of what it stood as on April 30, the latest data shows.
State government focuses on scheme facilitation
“Despite its considerable population and size, West Bengal was among the states faring poorest so far in the scheme. We were seeing a lot of resistance from the state government. In April, prior to the state elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in a state rally criticised the TMC government for obstructing implementation of the central scheme, aimed to make electricity bills zero. He had also cited the example of West Bengal’s neighbouring state Odisha, in successful implementation of the scheme, which was proving beneficial to its residents.
The new BJP-led state government took charge on May 9, 2026, replacing the Trinamool Congress (TMC) led state government. The central government scheme, which provides subsidies for solar rooftop installation up to ₹ 78,000, has set a target of covering 10 million households by March 2027. So far, around 6.3 million households have been covered.
Officials, part of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) said there remained stiff resistance from the local state government on a widescale implementation of the Central scheme, however, the scenario has changed rapidly since the new state government took over. Officials said there has been a strong focus on facilitation of the scheme as key state and central priorities. However, that has changed in the last few months and figures are rising rapidly,” said a senior official in the Ministry, adding there remains considerable scope in the coming months to take this figure even higher.
