How does Bihar's rooftop solar subsidy reach ₹98,000?
Bihar now adds up to ₹20,000 on top of the Centre's PM Surya Ghar subsidy for rooftop solar on homes. The state government says 25,000 families got the extra money in September.
- Under PM Surya Ghar, the Centre gives up to ₹78,000 for rooftop solar on a home 2.
- Bihar now adds ₹10,000 per kW, capped at ₹20,000 per consumer 1,2.
- So the total is ₹40,000 for 1 kW, ₹80,000 for 2 kW and up to ₹98,000 for 3 kW or more 1.
- The state says it paid the extra money to 25,000 families when it launched the Mukhyamantri Solar Protsahan Yojana in September 3,4.
How the money adds up
Rooftop solar means solar panels fixed on the roof of your house. They make electricity from sunlight, so the home buys less from the power company. The central government's PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana pays part of the cost: ₹30,000 per kW for the first 2 kW, and ₹18,000 for the third kW. The Centre's help stops at ₹78,000, for systems of 3 kW and above 2.
On 12 August 2026 the Bihar cabinet approved its own top-up: an extra ₹10,000 for every kW, but no more than ₹20,000 for one consumer 1,2. Because of that cap, a 3 kW system gets the same ₹20,000 from the state as a 2 kW system.
| System size | Centre | Bihar | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 kW | ₹30,000 | ₹10,000 | ₹40,000 |
| 2 kW | ₹60,000 | ₹20,000 | ₹80,000 |
| 3 kW or more | up to ₹78,000 | ₹20,000 | up to ₹98,000 |
| System size | Total subsidy |
|---|---|
| 1 kW | ₹40,000 |
| 2 kW | ₹80,000 |
| 3 kW or more | up to ₹98,000 |
Source: Patna Press 1; the bars add the Centre's and the state's amounts
Is the money actually being paid?
A cabinet approval is a promise; a payment is proof. On 22 September 2026, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary launched the Mukhyamantri Solar Protsahan Yojana in Patna. The state government says the extra state money was sent to 25,000 people who had already put up rooftop solar under PM Surya Ghar 3,4,5. Nine "Solar Raths", vans that travel to spread the word, were also sent out 3.
- 12 Aug 2026Bihar cabinet approves ₹10,000 per kW, up to ₹20,000 1,2
- 22 Sep 2026Scheme launched; state says 25,000 families paid 3,5
- NowApply on the PM Surya Ghar portal 6
Source: Patna Press, Energetica India, Deshaj Times
Before you apply
Applications go through the official PM Surya Ghar website, pmsuryaghar.gov.in. Keep your electricity bill, consumer number, bank details and ID ready. The power company checks the house, you pick a registered installer, and a net meter is fitted so extra power can go back to the grid 6.
What the numbers tell us
- The catchThe state money stops at 2 kW
Bihar's ₹20,000 cap is reached at 2 kW. A third kW still earns ₹18,000 from the Centre, but nothing more from the state 1,2.
- CompareFew states add their own money
One subsidy tracker lists 13 states and union territories with a top-up of their own; the rest give only the Centre's subsidy 7.
- What to watchWhat to watch
Whether the state publishes a clear step for new applicants to get the ₹20,000, and how many families apply after the first 25,000.
Why it matters
- For Bihar homeowners: the state money cuts the upfront cost by up to ₹20,000 more than the Centre's subsidy alone. Most states give only the central amount 7.
- For families with parents in Bihar: a 2 kW system already reaches the full state top-up, so going bigger only adds central money.
- For anyone comparing quotes: subtract the subsidy from the installer's price, but confirm the amounts on the official portal first.
Learn something: Subsidy cap
The most a scheme will pay, however big your purchase is. Above the cap, you pay every extra rupee yourself.
Bihar pays ₹10,000 per kW but caps it at ₹20,000 1. A 2 kW and a 5 kW system get the same ₹20,000 from the state.
Why it matters: The cap tells you where the subsidy stops helping, so you can size what you buy.
Common mistake: Multiplying the per-kW amount by your system size without checking the cap.
Try it: The state gives ₹10,000 per kW, up to ₹20,000. How much state money does a 4 kW system get?
₹20,000, not ₹40,000, because of the cap.
Send them this: Bihar now adds up to ₹20,000 to the Centre's rooftop solar subsidy, up to ₹98,000 in total.
Words in this story
- kW
- Kilowatt: a measure of how much power a solar system can make. Homes usually fit 1 to 3 kW.
- subsidy
- Money the government pays to lower the price you pay.
- top-up
- Extra money added on top of an amount that is already given.
- consumer number
- The number on your electricity bill that identifies your connection.
- net meter
- A meter that counts power going both ways: what you take from the grid and what your panels send back.
- rooftop solar
- Solar panels fixed on the roof of a home that make electricity from sunlight.
Sources
- Patna Press, Bihar Rooftop Solar Subsidy: Cabinet Approves Extra Rs 20,000 Assistance, Total Support Up To Rs 98,000, Aug 2026
- Energetica India, Bihar Approves Additional INR 10,000/kW Rooftop Solar Subsidy Under PM Surya Ghar, 14 Aug 2026
- Patna Press, Bihar's Solar Push Gets Bigger: CM Samrat Chaudhary Launches New Scheme, Rs 98,000 Subsidy for 3 kW Rooftop Systems, Sep 2026
- Power Peak Digest, Power Sector News Roundup for September 24, 2026, 24 Sep 2026
- Deshaj Times, बिहार में अब छत पर सोलर लगाने पर मिलेंगे पूरे ₹98,000, 22 Sep 2026
- SarkariYojana.com, PM Surya Ghar Yojana: Bihar Solar Subsidy Details, Aug 2026
- PM Solar (pmsolar.org.in), Solar Subsidy by State 2026: 36 States & UTs, 2026
How we did this. Every number links to its source. Where sources disagree, we leave the number out and say so. When we work out a number ourselves, we say "our maths".