Lucknow, Nov. 8 -- Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh has achieved a historic milestone under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, securing the top position in the country. Surpassing Gujarat and Maharashtra in cumulative rooftop solar installations, the state has firmly established itself as India's leading performer in the scheme.
UPNEDA Director Ravinder Kumar said, "Atotal of 9,53,201 rooftop solar plants had been installed across Uttar Pradesh as of November 5, 2026. The state also ranked first nationally in October 2026, with more than 75,031 installations during the month. This achievement reflects growing public confidence in solar energy, effective government policies and the coordinated efforts of UPNEDA, Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited, all power distribution companies, banking institutions and solar vendors."
The success of the scheme is underpinned by extensive financial support from the Central and Uttar Pradesh governments. Together, they have provided subsidies exceeding Rs.8,454.5 crore, including Rs.6,254.5 crore from the Central Government and an additional subsidy of more than Rs.2,200 crore from the Uttar Pradesh Government.
The financial assistance provided by the Centre, supplemented by the state's additional subsidy, has made rooftop solar systems more affordable for ordinary households. This has accelerated savings on electricity bills, energy self-reliance and the expansion of clean energy.
The installed rooftop solar capacity of 3,167.57 MW across the state is estimated to generate approximately 1.42 crore units of clean electricity every day. At an assumed electricity value of Rs.6.50 per unit, this translates into an economic value of approximately Rs.9.26 crore daily and nearly Rs.3,380 crore annually.
Besides reducing dependence on conventional sources of electricity, this is delivering financial benefits to consumers while promoting cleaner energy and environmental sustainability.
One of the biggest advantages of rooftop solar is that electricity is generated on existing rooftops, reducing the need to develop large tracts of land for solar parks. Based on Uttar Pradesh's installed rooftop solar capacity of 3,167.57 MW, setting up an equivalent ground-mounted solar power plant would require approximately 12,670 acres of land. Rooftop solar installations have therefore helped avoid the need to utilise such a vast land area.
This reduces pressure on agricultural land and natural resources. At the same time, clean electricity generated through rooftop solar is making a significant contribution towards reducing carbon emissions associated with conventional grid electricity. The existing installed capacity is estimated to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 35 lakh metric tonnes annually.
The PM Surya Ghar Yojana has also created new avenues for employment and entrepreneurship across the state. Uttar Pradesh has more than 8,700 state-empanelled solar vendors, while the sector has generated over one lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities.
Commercial activity is expanding rapidly across several segments, including solar modules, inverters, batteries, mounting structures, electrical equipment, installation, logistics, warehousing, distribution and maintenance. The entire value chain in the state is estimated to generate business opportunities worth approximately Rs.45-50 crore every day.
Uttar Pradesh's geographical location and rapidly expanding expressway network give it the potential to emerge as a major manufacturing and logistics hub for northern, central and eastern India. The Yamuna Expressway, Agra-Lucknow Expressway, Purvanchal Expressway, Bundelkhand Expressway, Gorakhpur Link Expressway and Ganga Expressway are providing improved connectivity to industrial and commercial centres across the state.
The success of the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana has demonstrated that rooftop solar is not merely a means of reducing electricity bills, but can also serve as a vital foundation for industrial growth, employment generation, local entrepreneurship, investment attraction and energy self-reliance.
Uttar Pradesh is no longer just the country's number-one state in rooftop solar installations. It is steadily moving towards becoming a major hub for India's emerging green energy economy, encompassing manufacturing, investment, employment and energy entrepreneurship.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.