India interim Budget: Households to get 300 units free electricity from rooftop solar scheme, announces FM
Representational image of solar panels installed
India's Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said inher interim Budget speech on Thursday (Feb 1) that those availing the newly-launchedrooftop solar programmewould be ableto obtain up to 300 units free electricity every month.
Notably, shortly after the much-anticipated Ram mandir consecration ceremony (Pran-Pratistha) last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that his government would push for the installation of rooftop solar systems in over one crore (10 million) households, under the PM Suryoday Yojana.
Sitharaman's budget speech further highlighted the benefits of the new programme.
"Through rooftop solarisation, one crore households will be enabled to obtain up to 300 units of free electricity every month. This scheme follows the resolve of the Hon’ble Prime Minister on the historic day of the consecration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya," said the minister.
She added that the new programme would enable the households to also earn an income of Rs 15,000 ($180)-Rs 18,000 ($216) per year by selling excess electricity to the power distribution companies.
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Building EV infra
The minister said the programme would also help in the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) by providing charging stations.
"The government will expand and strengthen the electric vehicle ecosystem by supporting manufacturing and charging infrastructure."
She added the government will provide entrepreneurship opportunitiesto give a fillip tothe sector.
"Entrepreneurship opportunities to a large number of vendors for supply and installation, employment opportunities for youth with technical skills in manufacturing, installation and maintenance."
According to reports, nearly 250 million households in India have the capacity to deploy637 GW of solar energy on rooftops. Although the entire scale may not be feasible, one-fifth of this potential which comes down to 118 GW of capacity, was certainly doable.
Prior to the announcements, the Indian minister kickstarted the speech by reflecting on the government's "humane and inclusive approach to development" in the last two terms.
"Development programmes, in the last ten years, have targeted each and every household and individual, through ‘housing for all’, ‘har ghar jal’, electricity for all, cooking gas for all, bank accounts and financial services for all, in record time," said Sitharaman.
(With inputs from agencies)