Govt Supports Solar Electrification of 1 Lakh Tribal Households Under New Scheme

New Delhi, Jul 30 (KNN) The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is implementing the New Solar Power Scheme for electrification of un-electrified households and solarisation of public facilities in Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) and tribal areas where grid connectivity is not techno-economically feasible.

The information was submitted by Union Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy Shripad Yesso Naik in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha. The scheme is being implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) and Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA), with 100 per cent Central Financial Assistance for its components.

Under the scheme, Rs 50,000 per household or the actual cost, whichever is lower, is provided for a 0.3 kW off-grid solar system for tribal and PVTG households. 

Solar street lighting and lighting facilities at Multi-Purpose Centres (MPCs) in PVTG areas receive Rs 1 lakh per MPC, while solarisation of public institutions under DAJGUA is supported at Rs 1 lakh per kW, subject to a maximum capacity of 20 kW per institution.

As of June 30, 2026, Central Financial Assistance of Rs 57.10 crore had been released. The scheme targets electrification of one lakh un-electrified households in tribal and PVTG areas and solarisation of 1,500 MPCs in PVTG areas. 

So far, 11,838 households have been electrified through off-grid solar systems across different states.

For households where grid connectivity is feasible, electrification is also being supported under the ongoing Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). 

Works amounting to Rs 521.45 crore, including gross budgetary support of Rs 331.49 crore, have been sanctioned in 13 states for on-grid electrification of 1,39,126 PVTG households. As of July 24, 2026, 1,38,620 PVTG households had been electrified.

The Union Government does not provide any subsidy to small shopkeepers or commercial premises operators for installing solar panels on commercial establishments. 

No proposal for a new subsidy scheme to promote solar energy adoption for commercial use by small businesses in tribal regions is under consideration.

(KNN Bureau)