Maharashtra has emerged as a frontrunner in residential solar adoption, with over 3.5 lakh households installing rooftop systems under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (PM-SGMBY). However, the state is lagging in the scheme’s “Model Solar Village” component, having failed to submit a single Detailed Project Report (DPR) to the Union Government so far.
The data was revealed by the Minister of State for New & Renewable Energy, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, December 3, 2025.
Rooftop Solar Success: The Numbers
Responding to inquiries from Dr. Bachhav Shobha Dinesh regarding the scheme’s progress in the Dhule and Nashik districts, the Ministry shared robust adoption figures. As of November 30, 2025, Maharashtra has received a total of 5,17,763 applications on the National Portal.
Of these, 3,54,687 rooftop solar (RTS) systems have already been installed, benefiting nearly 5.7 lakh households across the state.
The Minister provided a specific breakdown for the districts in question:
- Nashik: 32,492 applications received, resulting in 22,503 installations benefiting 41,994 households.
- Dhule: 14,445 applications received, resulting in 10,821 installations benefiting 10,984 households.
The “Model Solar Village” Gap
While individual household adoption is surging, community-level implementation appears stalled. A key component of the PM-SGMBY is the development of one “Model Solar Village” in every district of the country.
The Centre has allocated Rs 800 crore for this initiative, offering Central Financial Assistance (CFA) of Rs 1 crore per selected village. The selection is conducted via a “challenge mode,” where villages compete based on their renewable energy potential and planning.
According to REC Ltd., the national implementing agency, the challenge mode has successfully concluded in 390 districts nationwide, with 174 districts having already declared their selected model villages as of November 28, 2025.
In stark contrast, Minister Naik noted: “The state of Maharashtra is yet to submit DPR for development of model solar village in any of the district.”
What is the PM Surya Ghar Scheme?
PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is a demand-driven scheme designed to provide free electricity to households through rooftop solar systems. Any residential consumer with a grid-connected electricity connection can apply via the National Portal to avail of subsidies and benefits.
