Solar Calculator India 2026
Estimate your rooftop solar system size, cost, and savings with the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana subsidy applied automatically — plus your EMI on the 7% government loan and the date your electricity becomes free.
1 Your electricity
Enter your 6-digit PIN to auto-fill your district's average daily generation from NASA satellite data. You can always edit it below.
Indian residential tariffs typically run ₹6–₹9 per unit and rise every year. Check a recent bill for your exact slab rate.
2 Cost & generation
A complete on-grid setup (panels, inverter, structure, wiring, installation) runs about ₹50,000–₹60,000 per kW in 2026. Tier-1 brands (Tata, Adani, Waaree) cost a little more.
Most of India gets about 4 units (kWh) per kW per day on average; sunnier states (Rajasthan, Gujarat) can reach 4.5–5.
3 Subsidy & state top-up
Central subsidy: ₹30,000/kW up to 2 kW, +₹18,000 for the 3rd kW, capped at ₹78,000 for any system 3 kW and above (residential, up to 10 kW). As of May 2026 (per MNRE). Always confirm current rates at pmsuryaghar.gov.in before applying.
Some states add their own subsidy on top of the central one (e.g. Gujarat has offered ₹10,000/kW). Enter your state's per-kW top-up if any — leave 0 if unsure. Verify with your DISCOM.
4 How you'll pay
Indicative estimates only. Subsidy rules and tariffs change by government notification and vary by state/DISCOM. Assumes a gradual annual tariff rise and panel degradation. Confirm current PM Surya Ghar rates and get installer quotes before purchasing.
How PM Surya Ghar subsidy is calculated
• Up to 2 kW:
₹30,000 per kW (1 kW = ₹30,000; 2 kW = ₹60,000)• 3rd kW:
+₹18,000 (so 3 kW = ₹78,000)• 3 kW and above: capped at
₹78,000 (no extra above 3 kW; residential eligibility up to 10 kW)Net cost =
system cost − central subsidy − state top-up. Annual savings = annual units generated × tariff (capped at your usage). Payback = net cost ÷ annual savings; the free-electricity date is today plus the payback period. Source: Ministry of New & Renewable Energy / pmsuryaghar.gov.in — verify current values before applying.
Solar in India: how the savings really work
India is one of the most rewarding places in the world to install rooftop solar. Electricity tariffs are rising, sunshine is abundant across most of the country (typically 4.5–6 peak sun-hours a day), and the central government's PM Surya Ghar scheme puts a substantial subsidy directly into homeowners' bank accounts. For a typical home, a rooftop system pays for itself in just a few years and then delivers largely free electricity for two decades or more. This calculator brings those pieces together — your bill, your local sunshine, the subsidy and net metering — to estimate your real savings.
The PM Surya Ghar figures and scheme rules here were re-verified for 2026; because government schemes change by notification, each figure is presented as a dated reference you can confirm on the official portal.
The PM Surya Ghar subsidy, in plain terms
The central subsidy is tiered by system size: ₹30,000 per kW for the first 2 kW (so ₹60,000 at 2 kW), plus ₹18,000 for the third kW, capped at ₹78,000 for any system of 3 kW or more. Special-category states (the Northeast and certain hill states) can receive up to ₹1,17,000. The subsidy is paid by Direct Benefit Transfer to your bank account after your system is installed, inspected and the net meter is fitted — typically within a few weeks of commissioning, not upfront. Several states (such as Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and others) add their own top-up on top of the central amount, which is why this calculator keeps the state top-up as a separate, editable field.
What the subsidy does and doesn't cover
The subsidy is significant but not total — it covers a large share of a small system's cost, with the homeowner paying the balance (often roughly ₹60,000–₹90,000 out of pocket for a 2–3 kW system after subsidy). To qualify, you must be installing a new system using panels from the government's approved list (ALMM), have a valid electricity connection, and own the property (tenants can apply with the owner's consent). Existing systems installed before the scheme don't qualify. These conditions matter, so it's worth confirming your eligibility on pmsuryaghar.gov.in before committing.
Net metering and the "300 free units" idea
The scheme is built around net metering: your system generates power, you use what you need, and surplus is exported to the grid and credited against what you draw at night. For a well-sized system, those credits can offset most or all of your consumption — which is where the "up to 300 free units a month" headline comes from. A 3 kW system typically generates 300–400 units a month in most Indian states, enough to wipe out an average household's bill. The exact value depends on your state's net-metering policy and tariff, which vary, so the calculator lets you set your own rate.
Financing it
Collateral-free solar loans are available through public-sector banks under the scheme, making the upfront cost manageable. The honest nuance is that the subsidy arrives after commissioning, so a loan is usually taken for the full system cost and the subsidy then prepaid against the principal once it lands — which lowers your EMI from that point. Our solar loan EMI calculator models this honestly rather than assuming the subsidy reduces your loan from day one.
Frequently asked questions
₹30,000/kW for the first 2 kW, ₹18,000 for the third kW, capped at ₹78,000 for 3 kW or larger systems. Special-category states can get up to ₹1,17,000, and some states add a top-up. The central amount is credited to your bank account after commissioning.
For most homes, very much so. With the subsidy, rising tariffs and strong sunshine, payback is commonly just a few years, after which the system delivers largely free electricity for 20+ years. Run your bill and location through the calculator above for your own figures.
By Direct Benefit Transfer to your bank account after the system is installed, inspected and the net meter fitted — typically within a few weeks of commissioning. It's not paid upfront, so plan your financing around receiving it after the system is running.
Enough to cover your monthly consumption — often 2–3 kW for an average home, generating 300–400 units a month. Enter your bill above and the calculator suggests a size. Note the subsidy caps at 3 kW, so larger systems still receive only ₹78,000 from the centre.