On May 20, 2026, Tripura's Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath unveiled an ambitious initiative aimed at promoting renewable energy in the state. Under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, the state government, in partnership with the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited, will provide rooftop solar panels for an incredibly low fee of ₹1,000 to households consuming less than 50 units of electricity. This move is designed to enhance energy accessibility for economically weaker sections of society, with 1.5 lakh families already identified to benefit from this program.
During the launch event at the Geetanjali Government Guest House, Nath emphasized the significant subsidies being offered. He detailed that the government is providing ₹33,000 for a 1 kilowatt system, ₹66,000 for 2 kilowatts, and ₹85,800 for 3 kilowatts solar systems. This financial support is expected to encourage more families to transition to solar energy, which not only reduces electricity bills but also promotes environmental sustainability. Currently, the initiative has seen around 17,000 registrations and approximately 3,500 installations of rooftop solar systems.
- Target of 150 megawatts — The initiative aims to generate this amount of power through solar systems.
- Training and support — Collaborations with GIZ are providing essential training for maintenance and repair.
- Consumer empowerment — Households can now earn money by supplying excess power generated back to the grid.
Nath further elaborated that the initiative is projected to generate around 150 megawatts of electricity statewide. The collaboration with the Asian Development Bank and the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited aims to facilitate the identification of eligible families, with the expectation of commencing work as early as next month. The minister noted that there are approximately three lakh families in Tripura that consume less than 50 units of electricity, with plans to initially cover 1.5 lakh families under this scheme.
Additionally, the GIZ, a Germany-based organization, is actively involved in training officials, engineers, and vendors on the maintenance and repair of rooftop solar systems. Following the training sessions, two handbooks in English and Bengali were released to assist consumers and stakeholders in understanding the operation and maintenance of these systems. Nath stated, "Earlier, consumers had to pay electricity bills, but now many of them are earning money by supplying power through rooftop solar systems." The newly launched handbook is designed to benefit not only those who participated in the training but also those who could not attend, ensuring widespread access to vital information.
