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Solar energy

Solar energy: installed capacity and the schemes that grow it on rooftops, farms and water, the manufacturing chain from polysilicon to module, cell technologies, and the International Solar Alliance. Prelims has asked about the largest floating solar project in India and about solar water pumps.

UPSC has asked

Prelims 2025: PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and rooftop solar
Prelims 2018: solar power tariffs and the Solar Energy Corporation of India

Showing 1 of 5 subjects, those that changed from 1 to 15 July 2026.Show all

PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana

Prelims and Mains

PM Surya Ghar, launched in February 2024, subsidises rooftop solar for one crore households, with free electricity up to a set monthly use and the surplus sold to the distribution company.

What changed

29 Jul 2026Update
- Since February 2024, 39.7 lakh rooftop systems totalling about 14,181 MW have been installed, from more than 75 lakh applications.
Mains: the package shows blended finance, where a sovereign loan, a concessional loan and a grant are used to mobilise private money.
The Hindu, 29 Jul 2026: India curtailed 8,133 GWh solar power to maintain grid security (opens in a new tab) · PIB, 28 Jul 2026: Over 48 Lakh Households Benefit Under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana Since February 2024 (opens in a new tab)
11 Jul 2026New subject
- The World Bank committed $890 million to the programme: an $820 million loan, a $60 million concessional loan from the Clean Technology Fund and a $10 million grant, and it expects to draw in $4.2 billion of private lending.
The Hindu, 11 Jul 2026: World Bank commits $890 mn for solar rooftops in India (opens in a new tab)