CM Sets Target of Installing Solar Panels on 2.5 Lakh Homes under PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme by November 20

Key Highlights:

• Solar power generated beyond 125 units will be purchased by the state government, providing additional income to households.
• The government aims to ensure that 25 lakh households benefit from the free electricity scheme by November 20, 2027.
• Chief Minister launched rooftop solar installations for 2.5 lakh Kutir Jyoti consumers under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.
• Development projects worth Rs 1,278 crore in the energy sector were inaugurated and launched.
• Bihar provides the highest electricity subsidy of Rs 23,000 crore and among the cheapest power in the country.
• Electricity consumption in Bihar has increased from 400–500 MW in 2005 to 9,000 MW currently.

Patna, June 2026: Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Saturday launched rooftop solar installations for 2.5 lakh Kutir Jyoti consumers under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, involving an investment of Rs 1,512 crore. The initiative aims to provide clean, affordable and uninterrupted energy to economically weaker families while promoting renewable energy use across Bihar.

The Chief Minister also remotely inaugurated the Energy Accounting Smart Prepaid Metering Project, which will enable energy accounting from feeder and transformer levels to consumers, making electricity supply more efficient and transparent.

At a programme held at the Electricity Building on Nehru Path in Patna, Choudhary remotely inaugurated, laid foundation stones and launched multiple energy projects worth Rs 1,278 crore. These projects are expected to strengthen Bihar’s power infrastructure, improve supply quality and enhance consumer services.

Prior to the event, the Chief Minister visited the State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC) in Patna, where officials briefed him on real-time electricity consumption across Bihar and presented the state’s power map.

During the programme, beneficiaries from Munger, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur and Nalanda interacted with the Chief Minister via video conferencing. They said the installation of solar panels would free them from electricity bills, ensure uninterrupted power supply and allow savings to be used for children’s education.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister described the day as historic for poor households, noting that solar panel installation had begun on the rooftops of 2.5 lakh families.

He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of electrifying every village and recalled that former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had committed to providing electricity to every household in Bihar. As a result, electricity connections expanded from 17 lakh households in 2005 to 2.22 crore households today.

The Chief Minister highlighted that Bihar currently provides 125 units of free electricity to domestic consumers and spends Rs 23,000 crore annually on power subsidies, making it the state with one of the highest electricity subsidies in India.

He noted that Uttar Pradesh, despite being larger in size and population, provides only around Rs 6,000 crore in electricity subsidies, compared to Bihar’s Rs 23,000 crore.

Choudhary said the core objective of the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is to provide affordable and uninterrupted power to poor families. He added that if households generate electricity beyond 125 units through rooftop solar panels, the state government would purchase the excess power, creating an additional source of income for families.

He directed the Energy Department to establish an automated system that would directly credit payments for surplus electricity into consumers’ bank accounts.

The Chief Minister pointed out that electricity demand in Bihar has increased over thirteen-fold—from 400–500 MW in 2005 to nearly 9,000 MW today. He said the state is witnessing rapid industrial growth in sectors such as IT, data centres and semiconductors, making robust power infrastructure essential.

Setting ambitious targets, he instructed officials to complete solar installations on 2.5 lakh homes by November 20, 2026, marking one year of the government’s tenure, and ensure that 25 lakh households benefit from the scheme by November 20, 2027.

He also emphasized that promoting solar energy would help reduce carbon emissions, protect the environment and support green development goals.

The Chief Minister directed officials to ensure timely and quality implementation of all energy projects, stating that reliable power supply is key to accelerating Bihar’s development and strengthening its economy.