Delhi Solar Subsidy 2026: Eligibility, Subsidy Amount & How to Apply

Delhi homeowners can combine central financial assistance under PM Surya Ghar with benefits under the Delhi Solar Energy Policy. On 17 September 2026, the Government of NCT of Delhi notified the Delhi Solar Energy Policy 2023 (Second Amendment) in the Delhi Gazette, revising the state subsidy structure, introducing two new implementation models, and changing how electricity-bill subsidy eligibility is calculated for solar households.

This guide explains the subsidy amounts under the notified amendment, who is eligible, which documents you need, how to apply, and an important change to electricity subsidy eligibility that solar adopters should know about.

Last updated: 26 September 2026 This guide reflects the Second Amendment to the Delhi Solar Energy Policy 2023, notified on 17 September 2026 (F. No. DOP-EE/21/2026-EE and REM-POWER DEPARTMENT/6436). Subsidy amounts, vendor empanelment and implementation timelines can still evolve as MNRE approvals and DISCOM tenders proceed — always verify current status on the Delhi Solar Portal and the PM Surya Ghar portal before applying.

Want numbers for your own bill? Try our free Solar ROI Calculator.

Quick answer: Delhi solar subsidy 2026

• Applications: the Delhi Solar Portal announced that solar application submission opens from 2:30 PM on 21 September 2026.
• Central subsidy (PM Surya Ghar): up to ₹78,000 for a 3 kW or larger home system — unchanged by the amendment.
• Delhi state capital subsidy (revised): up to ₹26,000 per kW, capped at ₹78,000 for residential systems up to 3 kW — replacing the earlier ₹10,000/kW (₹30,000 cap) figure.
• GHS / RWA common areas: ₹11,000 per kW (including EV charging), up to 500 kW capacity.
• Generation-Based Incentive (GBI): discontinued for new residential installations — the GBI value is instead folded into the higher upfront capital subsidy above. Existing residential beneficiaries keep receiving GBI as before. Commercial & industrial consumers continue to get GBI for five years, unchanged.
• Zero-upfront-cost route: available specifically to consumers already receiving the electricity subsidy (average gross consumption ≤ 400 units/month in the previous FY) who have not availed any solar subsidy before — Delhi Government bears the full cost of a system up to 3 kW.
• New implementation models: a DISCOM Trusteeship Model and a Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) Model, both designed to remove the upfront-payment barrier by routing the state subsidy directly to the vendor instead of the consumer.
• Important new rule: electricity-bill subsidy eligibility is now based on gross consumption (solar generation + net grid import), not net metered consumption — see the dedicated section below, as this can affect households that install solar.
• Applications: the Delhi Solar Portal opened solar application submission from 2:30 PM on 21 September 2026.

Delhi solar subsidy at a glance

How much solar subsidy can you get in Delhi?

Delhi residential customers may be eligible for both central assistance under PM Surya Ghar and benefits under the Delhi Solar Energy Policy, subject to the applicable scheme, eligibility conditions and implementation rules.

Central subsidy: PM Surya Ghar (unchanged)

Delhi state capital subsidy (revised under the Second Amendment)

Residential:

The state subsidy is the lower of: (a) the vendor-discovered cost under the DISCOM Trusteeship Model minus the PM Surya Ghar subsidy, or (b) ₹26,000 × plant capacity in kW — subject to a ceiling of ₹78,000.

Group Housing Societies / RWAs (common areas, including EV charging), up to 500 kW capacity (@3 kW/house):

₹11,000 per kW, capped at the difference between total plant cost/kW and the PM Surya Ghar subsidy/kW, whichever is lower.

Generation-Based Incentive (GBI) — changed

• New residential (domestic) rooftop installations: GBI is discontinued going forward. Instead, its value is added upfront as part of the higher state capital subsidy above.
• Existing residential beneficiaries: continue receiving GBI under the original policy terms — nothing changes for them.
• New GHS/RWA installations: GBI is similarly upfronted and merged into the capital subsidy given under the table above.
• Commercial & industrial consumers: GBI continues unchanged for 5 years.

What changed: two new implementation models

The amendment's central innovation is removing the upfront payment barrier, which the notification cites as a major reason for slow adoption (loan rejection rates in Delhi were cited at roughly 48%).

1. DISCOM Trusteeship Model

• IPGCL (or another Power Department–authorised agency) empanels vendors via competitive bidding from among PM Surya Ghar–registered vendors.
• Project cost is discovered through bidding.
• On successful commissioning, the admissible state subsidy is paid directly to the vendor, not the consumer.
• Consumer pays only: project cost − state subsidy.
• DISCOMs act as trustee for consumer onboarding, vendor coordination, monitoring, subsidy reconciliation and grievance redressal, and also facilitate O&M and optional insurance after year five.
• The solar plant is owned by GNCTD/Power Department for the first 5 years (the mandatory O&M period) and transfers to the consumer's ownership afterward.

2. Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) Model

• Vendors are selected by the state implementing agency through competitive bidding.
• Consumer pays only the net cost after both central and state subsidies, and this contribution is capped at ₹5,000 per kW.
• Both models run concurrently; ULA is preferred wherever a project is viable within that ₹5,000/kW ceiling. If the discovered cost exceeds the ULA ceiling, the installation falls back to the DISCOM Trusteeship Model instead.

Worked examples from the notification (3 kW system):

Timeline

Vendor empanelment via bidding is to happen within 45 days of notification (i.e., by mid-November 2026), pending MNRE's approval of the ULA proposal. Until empanelment is complete, consumers may choose any PM Surya Ghar–empanelled vendor, with the interim state subsidy set at ₹26,000/kW for residential installations (including GHS installs under virtual net metering) and ₹11,000/kW for RWA/GHS common-area loads and EV charging infrastructure.

Zero-upfront-cost solar for subsidized electricity consumers

This is a distinct, narrower benefit than the state capital subsidy above. It applies to households that:

• Already receive the Delhi electricity subsidy — i.e., average gross electricity consumption up to 400 units/month in the previous financial year, and
• Have not previously availed solar subsidy under either PM Surya Ghar or the Delhi Solar Scheme, and
• Are technically feasible for rooftop installation.

For these households, GNCTD bears the full installation cost for a system up to 3 kW (central subsidy + Delhi state subsidy + any top-up needed to match the vendor's actual/tendered rate), installed under the DISCOM Trusteeship Model. The consumer's capex is reduced to nil.

Illustrative benefit figures from the notification:

• Consumption below 200 units/month: consumer gets 100% electricity subsidy on net units consumed plus an incentive of 50% of monthly energy savings (paid annually). Example: a household averaging 150 gross units/month with a 2 kW system could see roughly ₹550/month in additional credited value (from surplus export at APPC rate + the savings incentive), while remaining in the zero-bill subsidized category.
• Consumption between 201–400 units/month: example shown for a 3 kW system reduces a ₹1,472 pre-solar monthly bill (after existing ₹800 subsidy) to roughly ₹nil, since the 100-unit net-metered post-solar consumption falls within the subsidized slab.

Note: PM Surya Ghar is currently valid till 31 March 2027; if it isn't extended, this zero-upfront route (which relies partly on the central subsidy) will be reviewed.

⚠️ Important: how installing solar can affect your electricity subsidy (new Clause 4.14)

This is a change every prospective Delhi solar adopter should understand, and it's easy to miss.

Electricity subsidy eligibility is now determined by gross monthly consumption — i.e., total electricity consumed including what your own rooftop solar system generates — not by your net metered (billed) consumption. Electricity billing itself still runs on net metering as before under DERC regulations; only subsidy eligibility is now assessed on the gross figure.

Worked example from the notification:

Even though this household is billed for only 150 net units, its gross consumption (450 units) exceeds the 400-unit subsidy threshold — so it gets no electricity subsidy, despite a low net bill. Households near the 400-unit gross threshold should factor this in before sizing a system, since a system that pushes gross consumption over 400 units can cost the household its existing electricity subsidy.

Who is eligible for solar subsidy in Delhi?

Basic eligibility

• You are a residential electricity consumer in Delhi.
• You have a suitable rooftop or installation location with adequate shadow-free space.
• Your electricity connection and DISCOM details meet the applicable requirements.
• The system complies with domestic content requirements (DCR) — indigenously manufactured solar cells and modules — to remain eligible for central financial assistance; this applies to ULA procurement too.
• You have the required documents (listed below).
• For PM Surya Ghar, you use an empanelled vendor.

Only the registered electricity-connection holder can apply. Tenants need a no-objection certificate from the owner and must hold the DISCOM account.

Eligibility for the zero-upfront-cost route

• Average monthly gross consumption up to 400 units in the previous financial year
• System size up to 3 kW
• No prior solar subsidy availed by the household
• Technical feasibility at the site
• Installation through vendors empanelled under the DISCOM Trusteeship / ULA models

If you fall outside this route, you can still install solar, claim the central subsidy, and use net metering under the ULA (₹5,000/kW consumer cap) or DISCOM Trusteeship Model — you'd pay the balance yourself, per the worked examples above. Consumers wanting more than 3 kW remain free to use vendors outside both new models and are still eligible for capital subsidy under PM Surya Ghar and the Delhi policy, based on tendered cost.

How to apply for solar subsidy in Delhi

The Delhi Solar Portal opened solar application submission from 2:30 PM on 21 September 2026. There are two application routes, and they are separate:

• PM Surya Ghar route: apply on the national portal and select an empanelled vendor to claim the central subsidy.
• Delhi Solar Energy Policy route: apply through the Delhi Solar Portal, selecting your power distribution company.

Steps:

1. Check your consumption and roof. Note your average gross monthly units (not just your net bill) and confirm you have clear roof space.
2. Choose the applicable scheme and model. Decide between CAPEX, RESCO, ULA, or the DISCOM Trusteeship Model based on your eligibility and how much upfront cost you want to carry.
3. Apply on the relevant official portal. Use pmsuryaghar.gov.in and/or solar.delhi.gov.in.
4. Select an eligible vendor. For PM Surya Ghar, the vendor must be empanelled; under the new models, choose from the DISCOM/IPGCL-empanelled list once bidding concludes.
5. Complete feasibility and DISCOM requirements. BSES or Tata Power-DDL verifies your load and roof.
6. Install the system. See our rooftop solar installation process.
7. Inspection, commissioning and net metering. The DISCOM inspects the site and installs a bi-directional meter.
8. Track subsidy release. Use the status check below.

Documents required

• Latest electricity bill with your CA (Consumer Account) number
• Aadhaar or PAN
• Property ownership proof, or the owner's consent letter
• Bank account details for the subsidy transfer
• Signed single-line diagram and the installer's safety certificate (for net metering)

Requirements may be refined further as the DISCOM Trusteeship/ULA tenders are finalized, so confirm the current list when you apply.

How to check Delhi solar subsidy status

The Delhi Solar Portal has a Capital Subsidy Released Status facility. Enter your CA number to see whether the capital subsidy has been released. Under the new models, the subsidy is released to the vendor rather than the consumer once the system is commissioned, so your own "released status" reflects that vendor payout rather than money credited to you.

If your status shows no release after commissioning, check for mismatched names across your bill, Aadhaar and bank account, pending inspection, or an incomplete application.

Installation models available in Delhi

The Delhi Solar Portal lists several models for consumers:

3 kW solar system cost in Delhi

System cost depends on equipment, roof type and vendor, so use the Delhi Solar Portal calculator for indicative installation-cost and subsidy calculations. The notification's own worked ULA example uses an indicative cost of about ₹1.75 lakh for a 3 kW system, but your actual price depends on your site, specification and the tendered rate under the new bidding-based models.

How much electricity can a 3 kW system generate in Delhi?

A common planning estimate is 4 to 5 units per kW per day on a clear sunny day. For a 3 kW system, that is about 12 to 15 units a day under clear-sky conditions. Real output varies with season, shading, roof orientation, equipment quality, dust and cleaning. The notification's own working assumption is around 300 units a month from a 3 kW system, so plan around a range, not a guarantee.

For a real Delhi example, read Mr Narender Bansal's 3.4 kW solar story from Pratap Nagar. To understand how your units and charges add up, see our Delhi electricity bill breakdown.

Net metering in Delhi

Net metering lets you export surplus solar power to the grid and offset your bill with the units you feed back. It is governed by DERC net-metering regulations and handled through your DISCOM. Note again that billing stays net-metered, but electricity subsidy eligibility is now assessed on gross consumption (see the Clause 4.14 section above) — the two are no longer the same calculation.

Which solar vendor should you choose?

• Confirm the vendor is PM Surya Ghar-empanelled if you want the central subsidy, and check whether they're on the DISCOM/IPGCL-empanelled list for the Trusteeship/ULA models.
• Confirm their modules meet domestic content requirements (DCR) — non-DCR modules make an installation ineligible for central financial assistance.
• Compare panel and inverter brands, warranties and after-sales support.
• Ask for a written scope covering structure, wiring, net metering, O&M terms after year five, and any roof work.

If you are looking for rooftop solar installation in Delhi, VaySolar can help you understand system sizing, roof suitability, installation requirements and available solar options. See our Delhi solar installation pages, including Janakpuri, Vikas Puri and Vasant Kunj, and our overview of the benefits of rooftop solar.

⏳ What can delay your subsidy?

• Names that do not match across the electricity bill, Aadhaar and bank account
• Missing roof ownership proof or owner consent
• Incorrect sanctioned load or DISCOM details
• Applying on only one of the two portals
• Pending inspection or net-metering approval
• Using a vendor that is not empanelled (for the central subsidy) or not yet on the DISCOM/ULA panel
• Non-DCR modules (ineligible for central financial assistance)

Should you wait for the Delhi solar scheme or install rooftop solar now?

Whichever route you consider, verify the current rules first, then compare options. Our guide on why going solar now makes financial sense shows a worked savings example, and our subsidy guide covers the central slabs.

Get my subsidy-ready quote

Frequently asked questions

How much is the Delhi solar subsidy in 2026?

The central PM Surya Ghar subsidy is up to ₹78,000 for a 3 kW or larger system, unchanged. Following the Second Amendment notified 17 September 2026, the Delhi state capital subsidy for residential systems up to 3 kW is up to ₹26,000/kW, capped at ₹78,000 — replacing the earlier ₹10,000/kW (₹30,000 cap) figure.

Can I claim both the central and the Delhi solar subsidy?

Yes. Eligible households can receive central assistance under PM Surya Ghar and state benefits under the Delhi Solar Energy Policy. They are applied for on separate portals.

Is rooftop solar free in Delhi?

For households already receiving the electricity subsidy (average gross consumption up to 400 units/month) who haven't previously availed a solar subsidy, GNCTD bears the full cost of a system up to 3 kW. Other eligible households pay only the balance after subsidies — as little as ₹0–₹19,000 for a typical 3 kW system under the ULA/Trusteeship worked examples in the notification. It is not automatic zero-cost for every household.

Who is eligible for the zero-upfront-cost route?

Average gross monthly electricity consumption up to 400 units in the previous financial year, a system up to 3 kW, no prior solar subsidy availed, and technical feasibility at the site.

How do I check my Delhi solar subsidy status?

Use the Capital Subsidy Released Status page on the Delhi Solar Portal and enter your CA number. Under the new models this reflects the vendor payout, since the subsidy goes to the vendor directly.

Is the generation-based incentive still available?

It's discontinued for new residential rooftop installations — its value is instead upfronted into the higher state capital subsidy. Existing residential beneficiaries keep receiving GBI as before, and commercial & industrial consumers continue to get GBI for 5 years, unchanged.

Do I need net metering?

Yes, if you want to export surplus power to the grid and offset your bill with the units you feed back.

Last updated: 26 Sep 2026 Official source: Delhi Gazette, Extraordinary, Part IV, No. 277, 17 September 2026 — Delhi Solar Energy Policy 2023 (Second Amendment), F. No. DOP-EE/21/2026-EE and REM-POWER DEPARTMENT/6436, Department of Power, GNCTD; Delhi Solar Portal (solar.delhi.gov.in) and PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana portal (pmsuryaghar.gov.in) for application and status-check details.