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The PM Surya Ghar application process, step by step

Everything runs through one national portal, pmsuryaghar.gov.in, with your DISCOM handling feasibility, the net meter, and inspection. Here is every step with its documents and a realistic timeline, so you know exactly where you are in the process and what comes next.

At a glance, 10-second read

  • ▸One national portal for everything: pmsuryaghar.gov.in, no state-wise application, no agents needed.
  • ▸7 steps, realistically 30-60 days end to end.
  • ▸The subsidy (up to ₹78,000) is paid directly to your bank account, never through the vendor.
  • ▸Feasibility depends on your sanctioned load, check your electricity bill before you start.
Before you start: keep a recent electricity bill handy (for your consumer number), and make sure the connection is in the applicant's name. Check thefull documents checklist first.

The 7 steps

  1. 1

    Register on the PM Surya Ghar portal

    Same day

    Go to pmsuryaghar.gov.in and register with your state, DISCOM, electricity consumer number, mobile number, and email. Your consumer number is printed on your electricity bill.

    Documents: Electricity bill (for consumer number), mobile number linked to Aadhaar

  2. 2

    Apply for rooftop solar

    Feasibility approval typically within 15 days

    Log in and submit the application form with your proposed system capacity. The DISCOM checks technical feasibility, mainly whether your sanctioned load and local transformer can support the system.

    Documents: Recent electricity bill, proof of roof ownership if asked

  3. 3

    Choose a registered vendor

    Your pace, don't rush vendor selection

    Once feasibility is approved, pick from the portal's list of vendors empanelled with your DISCOM. Get at least 2-3 quotes. The vendor must use ALMM-listed, DCR-compliant panels for the subsidy to be valid.

    Documents: Signed agreement with vendor (model agreement available on the portal)

  4. 4

    Installation

    1-3 weeks from order, 2-3 days on the roof

    The vendor installs panels, inverter, mounting structure, earthing, and wiring. Installation itself usually takes 2-3 days for a residential system once material is on site.

    Documents: Keep the invoice, warranty cards, and datasheets

  5. 5

    Submit installation details & apply for net meter

    Net meter typically installed within 15-30 days

    Upload plant details and photos on the portal, then the DISCOM schedules net meter installation. The net meter records both what you draw from and export to the grid.

    Documents: Plant details, photos, vendor's completion certificate

  6. 6

    Inspection & commissioning certificate

    Usually within 15 days of net meter installation

    The DISCOM inspects the installation and, if all is in order, issues the commissioning certificate on the portal. Your system is now officially live.

    Documents: None new, inspection is physical

  7. 7

    Submit bank details & receive subsidy

    Subsidy credited within ~30 days of commissioning

    Submit your bank account details and a cancelled cheque on the portal. The central subsidy is paid directly into your account (DBT), it never goes through the vendor.

    Documents: Bank account details, cancelled cheque

Watch the portal registration, step by step (Hindi)

PM Surya Ghar Yojana Registration, online apply walkthrough (Hindi)PM Surya Ghar Yojana Registration, online apply walkthrough (Hindi)

External video, loads only when you press play. We're not affiliated with the channel; the portal UI may have changed slightly since recording.

Official portals, apply & verify here

We are not affiliated with any government body. Applications and current scheme rules live on these official portals, never pay anyone to "arrange" the subsidy for you.

PM Surya Ghar portalRegistration, application, vendor list, subsidy trackingOfficialJan Samarth portalThe ~7% collateral-free solar loanOfficialMNRE (ALMM list)Approved panel models & manufacturersOfficialCPGRAMSNational grievance portal if your subsidy is stuckOfficial

Collateral-free solar loan at ~7%

  • ✓Under PM Surya Ghar, banks offer collateral-free loans of up to ₹2 lakh for residential rooftop systems up to 3kW.
  • ✓Interest is capped at roughly 7% p.a. (pegged to repo rate + 0.5%), far below typical personal-loan rates of 11-16%.
  • ✓Available through most public sector banks; apply via the Jan Samarth portal or your bank branch with your PM Surya Ghar application ID.
  • ✓The subsidy (up to ₹78,000) can be used to prepay the loan once it lands in your account.

₹18,000/kW for housing societies (GHS/RWA)

  • ✓Group Housing Societies and RWAs get ₹18,000 per kW of central subsidy for solar on common facilities, lifts, pumps, common-area lighting, EV charging.
  • ✓Capped at 500kW of capacity (at 3kW per house), including individual rooftop plants already installed by residents.
  • ✓The society applies as a single entity on the PM Surya Ghar portal; the subsidy goes to the society's account.

ALMM & DCR: the panel rules your subsidy depends on

  • ✓ALMM (Approved List of Models and Manufacturers), the subsidy is only valid if your panels are on MNRE's approved list. Ask your vendor for the ALMM listing of the exact model quoted.
  • ✓DCR (Domestic Content Requirement), for PM Surya Ghar, both the solar cells and modules must be made in India. Imported-cell panels disqualify the subsidy even if the module is assembled in India.
  • ✓Inverters must be BIS-certified. Insist on seeing certificates before signing, a non-compliant install forfeits the entire subsidy.

Subsidy stuck? The escalation path

  • ✓First: raise a grievance on the PM Surya Ghar portal itself (Grievance section) quoting your application ID.
  • ✓DISCOM-side delays (feasibility, net meter, inspection): escalate to your DISCOM's consumer grievance redressal forum (CGRF), every DISCOM must have one.
  • ✓Still stuck: file on the national CPGRAMS portal (pgportal.gov.in) tagging MNRE. CPGRAMS complaints have statutory response timelines.
  • ✓Keep every acknowledgement number. The most common cause of a stuck subsidy is mismatched bank details, verify your submitted account number first.

FAQs

How long does the whole PM Surya Ghar process take?

Realistically 30-60 days end to end: feasibility approval within ~15 days, installation 1-3 weeks after you pick a vendor, net meter within 15-30 days, inspection within ~15 days, and the subsidy credited within ~30 days of commissioning. States with expedited processes (like Rajasthan) can be faster.

Does the subsidy go to me or the vendor?

To you, directly. The central subsidy is paid by DBT (direct benefit transfer) into the bank account you register on the portal. If a vendor asks you to sign the subsidy over to them or offers to 'adjust it in the price', treat it as a red flag.

Can I apply if the electricity connection is in a family member's name?

The application must match the name on the electricity connection. Either transfer the connection first, or apply in the connection-holder's name with their documents and bank account.

What if my application is rejected at feasibility?

Common causes: requested capacity exceeds your sanctioned load, or the local transformer has no spare capacity. You can reapply with lower capacity, or apply to your DISCOM to enhance your sanctioned load first.

First, know your numbers

Before registering, check what size system your bill justifies, your subsidy, and your payback period, it takes 10 seconds.

Run the subsidy calculatorHow to pick a vendor