The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana has installed rooftop solar systems in 40 lakh households so far. The target of 75 lakh households by year-end faces potential delays due to shortages of locally made panels.
About 40 lakh rooftop systems have been installed under the scheme, adding over 12 gigawatts of capacity. Vendors report waiting periods of 25 to 30 days for Domestic Content Requirement compliant panels, which use locally manufactured solar cells.
Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, met domestic manufacturers on Monday to address availability. The ministry said it is monitoring prices and supply through REC Limited and the National Institute of Solar Energy.
Prices of compliant modules rose in May ahead of the May 31, 2026 deadline for net-metering projects. From June 1, all solar projects must use locally made cells. India's solar cell capacity stands at about 30 gigawatts against module production of 60 to 65 gigawatts.
Vijay Kumar, President of the Solar Ardent Association in Haryana, said leading manufacturers are operating at full capacity. This has led to project delays for installers in states including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Odisha.
