ADB Approves USD 850 Million to Accelerate Rooftop Solar Rollout Under PM Surya Ghar Scheme

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved USD 850 million loan to support reforms that will speed up the rollout of the Government of India’s flagship rooftop solar programme, boosting the resilience of Indian households through better access to affordable clean energy, mobilising private sector investment and strengthening the skills of grid personnel and rural entrepreneurs.

The financing for subprogram 2 of the Accelerating Affordable and Inclusive Rooftop Solar Systems Development Programme supports the government’s flagship Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, which aims to install rooftop solar systems for 10 million low- and middle-income households, adding 30 gigawatts of residential solar capacity by fiscal year 2027.

Mio Oka, Director for India, ADB Country, said, “The programme will help India expand rooftop solar at scale while making clean energy more affordable and accessible to millions of households. It supports a people-centered energy transition by reducing exposure to energy price and supply shocks, strengthening distribution systems, creating green jobs, expanding opportunities for women and building stronger domestic clean energy value chains.”

Subprogram 2 builds on subprogram 1, approved in November 2025, which established the policy, institutional, digital, financing and market foundations for large-scale rooftop solar deployment. The new financing will help scale rooftop solar adoption by improving incentives, financing, grid readiness, utility engagement, skills and digital monitoring, while supporting domestic manufacturing, storage, recycling and household use of clean energy.

Upfront costs will be reduced and adoption accelerated under the programme through financial assistance for at least 3.5 million rooftop installations, digital application and monitoring systems, distribution company participation, and private sector engagement.

The programme will also support training and certification of at least 6,000 people—at least one-third of whom are women—and facilitate new model solar villages and innovative distributed solar projects. It will further strengthen vendor accountability, promote women’s participation in distributed renewable energy, and improve the safe handling and recycling of solar photovoltaic panels and battery waste.

ADB’s support is expected to contribute to India’s target of 30 gigawatts of cumulative rooftop solar capacity, reduce carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by 28.8 million tons, and expand access to affordable solar energy.