This guide is for readers who need the current solar subsidy, DISCOM process and electricity rules for their state.
National subsidy, state electricity rules
PM Surya Ghar central financial assistance is a national scheme. Your grid connection still sits under a local DISCOM and State Electricity Regulatory Commission. That is why two people with similar roofs can face different meter processes or export settlement.
A state government can add its own support, but do not assume a social post or old vendor brochure is current. The National Portal should show integrated state support where applicable.
Check these items for your connection
- Residential consumer category and sanctioned load
- Maximum system capacity and phase requirements
- Net metering, net billing or gross metering availability
- Feasibility, application and meter charges
- Billing and surplus settlement period
- Meter procurement and testing responsibility
- Required protection and inspection documents
- Any state incentive and its budget or application window
Use this order of sources
- Your latest electricity bill for the exact DISCOM and consumer details.
- The PM Surya Ghar National Portal for scheme application and registered vendors.
- Your DISCOM rooftop solar page for process and forms.
- The State Electricity Regulatory Commission for the binding regulation and tariff orders.
- MNRE notifications for central scheme rules.
The National Portal’s registration flow asks for state and DISCOM, which helps route the application correctly.
Why we do not publish a fixed 36-state subsidy table
A large table becomes wrong as soon as a budget closes, a tariff order changes or a DISCOM revises a fee. We prefer a reliable checking method to stale precision. Every time-sensitive page on SolarCost.in carries a review date and links to primary sources.
Four bodies can affect one rooftop project
| Body | What it usually controls |
|---|---|
| MNRE | Central scheme rules, CFA and national technical requirements |
| State government or nodal agency | State support, programme windows and local implementation |
| State Electricity Regulatory Commission | Net metering, settlement, capacity and tariff orders |
| DISCOM | Application, feasibility, meter, inspection, connection and billing |
A vendor cannot replace any of these rules. When two pages conflict, use the newer binding order and ask the agency that implements it.
Special category central rates are not a state bonus
PM Surya Ghar uses higher central rates for Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, the North Eastern states including Sikkim, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep. The rate is ₹33,000 per kW for the first 2 kW and ₹19,800 for the next 1 kW, with no extra central amount above 3 kW.
Other state support, where available, is separate. A state may set an application window, budget, eligible category or additional technical condition. Do not label a scheme “free solar” without checking what the beneficiary still pays.
Find the DISCOM, not only the state
Large states can have several electricity distribution companies. Your electricity bill gives the exact DISCOM and consumer category needed for the application.
Use the state or DISCOM name with the task you need, such as a rooftop application, net meter form, tariff order, application status, grievance or helpline. Confirm that the result belongs to a government, regulator or official utility domain.
Where to look first
- PM Surya Ghar National Portal for residential CFA and registered vendors
- State regulator website for the latest distributed solar regulation and tariff order
- DISCOM website for forms, fees, contacts and application tracking
- State renewable energy agency for any separate programme
- Forum of Regulators for model rules and regulator references
How to tell whether a state rule is current
- Read the publication date and effective date.
- Look for amendments, corrigenda and later tariff orders.
- Check whether it applies to your consumer category and system size.
- Confirm the settlement period and value of surplus energy.
- Check charges, phase, sanctioned load and technical limits.
- Save the document used for the decision.
A search result date can refer to when a page was indexed, not when a regulation took effect. The signed order or gazette controls. If the portal and old PDF differ, raise a written query with the DISCOM before paying.
For an application delay, use the DISCOM complaint route first. Then follow the consumer grievance forum and electricity ombudsman path described by the state if the issue remains unresolved.
Find the official pages for your state or Union Territory
Do not rely on a copied state subsidy table when a rule can change. Use the official directories below to identify the three bodies that matter for your connection.
- Identify your DISCOM. Open the PM Surya Ghar National Portal, choose your state and match the DISCOM with the name on your electricity bill.
- Find the state renewable-energy agency. MNRE’s AREAS page is the central starting point for State Nodal Agencies that implement renewable-energy programmes.
- Open the electricity regulator. The Forum of Regulators directory links to State Electricity Regulatory Commissions and the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commissions used for Goa and several Union Territories.
States and Union Territories covered
Use the same three-step check for Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Lakshadweep and Puducherry.
Record these details before you pay
- The latest regulation or tariff order and its effective date
- Your consumer category, sanctioned load and phase
- The permitted rooftop capacity for that connection
- Whether net metering, net billing or another arrangement applies
- Application, meter, testing and connection charges
- How unused export credits are carried forward or settled
- Any separate state incentive, its budget and its application window
If a vendor gives you a rule or subsidy amount, ask for the current official page or signed order behind it. Save that document with the quotation.
Common questions
Is the central subsidy different in every state?
The central rate has a standard structure plus higher rates for listed special category states and territories. Separate state support and electricity rules can differ.
Where can I find my DISCOM?
It is printed on your electricity bill. The PM Surya Ghar registration flow also lists participating DISCOMs after you choose a state.
Which state gives the highest solar subsidy?
There is no stable national ranking. PM Surya Ghar has standard and special category central rates. Separate state support can open, change or close with its own budget and rules.
How do I apply for a state solar subsidy?
Start with the official PM Surya Ghar portal for residential central support, then check the state nodal agency and DISCOM for any separate programme.
How do I check solar subsidy status?
Use the application portal named in the official scheme. For PM Surya Ghar, use the consumer login on the National Portal. Keep the application ID and DISCOM details.
Are net metering rules the same in every state?
No. The national rules provide a framework, while state regulators and DISCOMs set working limits, settlement, charges and procedures.
What if my state portal and DISCOM give different instructions?
Ask the DISCOM for the current signed order or written clarification. Save the response and do not rely on an older vendor document.
Where should I check a current state solar subsidy?
Start with the PM Surya Ghar National Portal for central support. Then check the state renewable energy agency, regulator and the DISCOM named on your electricity bill for any separate state offer and local rules.
How do I find the official solar rules for my state?
First use the PM Surya Ghar portal to identify the DISCOM for a residential application. Then use MNRE’s AREAS page to find the state renewable-energy agency and the Forum of Regulators directory to open the correct State or Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission. Check the latest signed order for your consumer category and system size before paying a vendor.
Official sources
Rules and portal processes can change. Check these sources before committing money.
About the editorial team
The SolarCost.in Editorial Team checks official rules, public data, calculations, source dates and plain language. The team is independent of installers, vendors and lenders. It does not install solar or sell customer leads, and it does not provide engineering, legal or financial advice. Read our editorial policy or report a correction.