Massive Solar Boost in Maharashtra: ‘SMART’ Scheme Offers up to 95% Subsidy for Rooftop Solar Systems in Low-Income Homes
- MimTimes मिम टाइम्स م ٹائمز
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
13 October 2025
Mumbai:The Maharashtra government has taken a major step toward energy self-sufficiency and clean power for low-income families by launching the Swayampurna Maharashtra Residential Roof Top (SMART) Solar Scheme. Under this ambitious initiative, households will receive up to 95% subsidy on rooftop solar installations, making solar power nearly free for the state’s poorest citizens. The government said the move will not only reduce electricity bills drastically but also allow families to earn by selling surplus power to the grid.
Approved through an official Government Resolution, the scheme is specifically targeted at Below Poverty Line (BPL) consumers and economically weaker households whose monthly electricity consumption is less than 100 units. The main goal is to make these families self-reliant in electricity and promote renewable energy use across the state.
High Subsidies, Minimal Consumer Contribution
The benchmark cost of a 1-kilowatt (kW) rooftop solar system has been fixed at ₹50,000.
• BPL Consumers will pay only ₹2,500 per kW, as the remaining cost will be covered through a ₹30,000 central subsidy and ₹17,500 state subsidy — a total of around 95% subsidy.
• SC/ST Consumers (below 100 units) will pay ₹5,000 per kW, with the state covering 30% (₹15,000).
• Other Economically Weaker Consumers (below 100 units) will pay ₹10,000 per kW, with a 20% (₹10,000) state subsidy.
In total, the SMART scheme is expected to benefit five lakh domestic consumers, including 1,54,622 BPL and 3,45,378 economically weaker households.
Clean Energy and National Commitment
The government emphasized that the project aims not only at economic relief but also at environmental protection and national energy goals. India pledged at COP26 to achieve 500 gigawatts of non-fossil fuel energy by 2030, and Maharashtra’s SMART scheme is a major step toward that goal. It will also help curb air pollution caused by traditional power generation.
Funding and Duration
The Maharashtra government has allocated ₹330 crore for FY 2025–26 and ₹325 crore for FY 2026–27 to implement the scheme, which will remain in effect until March 2027.
Eligibility and Implementation
To qualify, applicants must:
• Hold a valid electricity connection in their name.
• Have no outstanding electricity dues.
• Not have availed of any other solar subsidy.
• Ensure their power consumption between October 2024 and September 2025 does not exceed 100 units in any month.
The implementation will be handled by the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), which will issue tenders, verify technical feasibility, and monitor installation and five-year maintenance. The government has directed that remote regions such as Melghat, Nandurbar, and Gadchiroli receive priority in implementation.
Priority and Benefits
Applications will be processed on a “first come, first served” basis, but BPL families will receive top priority. The government believes this move complements the Central Government’s ‘PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana’ and will make Maharashtra a national leader in affordable and sustainable energy.
