How to use the PM Surya Ghar calculator
- Choose a home or an RWA / group housing society.
- Enter the units you use in a month, from your electricity bill.
- Let the calculator suggest a size, or choose one yourself.
- Pick general or special category state.
- Open the assumptions to set the cost per kW, your tariff and units per kW a day.
- Read the subsidy, net cost, bill saving and payback.
PM Surya Ghar subsidy formula
Subsidy = ₹30,000 × first 2 kW + ₹18,000 × 3rd kW (most ₹78,000)
Payback (years) = (cost − subsidy) ÷ (units used from solar a month × tariff × 12)
A part kW gets a part of the subsidy. In special category states the amounts are ₹33,000 and ₹19,800. For an RWA or group housing society, the subsidy is ₹18,000 per kW for common facilities, up to 3 kW per home and 500 kW in all.
PM Surya Ghar subsidy by system size
| System size | General category | Special category |
|---|---|---|
| 1 kW | ₹30,000 | ₹33,000 |
| 1.5 kW | ₹45,000 | ₹49,500 |
| 2 kW | ₹60,000 | ₹66,000 |
| 2.5 kW | ₹69,000 | ₹75,900 |
| 3 kW | ₹78,000 | ₹85,800 |
| 4 kW | ₹78,000 | ₹85,800 |
| 5 kW | ₹78,000 | ₹85,800 |
Rooftop solar cost and payback by size
At ₹60,000 per kW, ₹7 a unit and 4 units per kW a day, with every unit used at home, in a general category state.
| Size | Cost | Subsidy | Net cost | Saving a month | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 kW | ₹60,000 | ₹30,000 | ₹30,000 | ₹840 | 3.0 years |
| 2 kW | ₹1,20,000 | ₹60,000 | ₹60,000 | ₹1,680 | 3.0 years |
| 3 kW | ₹1,80,000 | ₹78,000 | ₹1,02,000 | ₹2,520 | 3.4 years |
| 4 kW | ₹2,40,000 | ₹78,000 | ₹1,62,000 | ₹3,360 | 4.0 years |
| 5 kW | ₹3,00,000 | ₹78,000 | ₹2,22,000 | ₹4,200 | 4.4 years |
PM Surya Ghar rules at a glance
- The subsidy is for grid-connected rooftop solar on homes, fitted by a vendor registered on pmsuryaghar.gov.in.
- Panels must be made in India with Indian-made cells.
- You pay the vendor first. The subsidy reaches your bank account after the net meter is fitted and the DISCOM inspects the system.
- Collateral-free bank loans are offered for home systems up to 3 kW, at around 7% a year; the bank sets the terms.
Who can apply, the steps, documents and net metering are explained in simple words on the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana page.
Frequently asked questions
How is the PM Surya Ghar subsidy calculated?
For a home in a general category state: ₹30,000 per kW for the first 2 kW and ₹18,000 for the 3rd kW. Nothing more is paid above 3 kW, so the most is ₹78,000. In special category states it is ₹33,000 and ₹19,800, up to ₹85,800.
How much subsidy will I get for a 3 kW solar system?
₹78,000 in a general category state, and ₹85,800 in a special category state. A 4 kW or 5 kW system gets the same amount, because the subsidy stops at 3 kW.
How many units does a 1 kW solar system make?
About 4 units a day in most of India, so about 120 units a month. A 3 kW system makes about 360 units a month. Cloudy weather, hills and shade lower it.
How is the bill saving worked out?
Units made a month, up to the units you use, times your tariff per unit. Extra units sent to the grid are not counted, because what you get for them depends on your state's net metering rules.
What is the payback period of rooftop solar?
Net cost divided by the yearly bill saving. With a 3 kW system at ₹60,000 per kW and ₹7 a unit, the net cost is ₹1,02,000 and the saving is ₹30,240 a year, so the payback is about 3.4 years.
Is the system cost in the calculator exact?
No. ₹60,000 per kW is an estimate. The real price depends on the vendor, the state, the roof and the brand. Get quotes from registered vendors on pmsuryaghar.gov.in and enter that price.
Does the calculator include state subsidies?
No. Some states add their own subsidy on top of the central one, but the amounts and rules differ and change often. The calculator shows the central subsidy only.