Quick answer: Under PM Surya Ghar, the central subsidy is ₹30,000 for 1 kW, ₹60,000 for 2 kW and ₹78,000 for 3 kW or more (up to ₹85,800 in special category states). Enter your system size and your vendor’s quote below to see your subsidy, what you’ll pay yourself, your EMI and roughly how long the panels take to pay for themselves.
A solar vendor visits, looks at the roof, and quotes a number. Then come the questions at the dinner table: “Subsidy ke baad kitna lagega? EMI kitni banegi? Paisa wapas kab aayega?” This calculator answers all three in one go, using the subsidy rules in MNRE’s guidelines and your own numbers.
PM Surya Ghar Subsidy Calculator
Savings and loan settings
How the Subsidy Is Calculated
The subsidy, officially called Central Financial Assistance, is worked out per kW:
| Part of the system | Most states | Special category states |
|---|---|---|
| First 2 kW | ₹30,000 per kW | ₹33,000 per kW |
| Third kW | ₹18,000 | ₹19,800 |
| Beyond 3 kW | Nothing extra | Nothing extra |
Half-kW sizes are worked out the same way. A 2.5 kW system, for example, gets ₹60,000 for the first 2 kW plus half of ₹18,000, which comes to ₹69,000.
Special category states and UTs are the North-Eastern states including Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.
Benchmark Cost vs Your Real Quote
If you leave the quote box empty, the calculator uses MNRE’s benchmark cost: ₹50,000 per kW for the first 2 kW and ₹45,000 per kW after that (₹55,000 and ₹49,500 in special category states). That’s the figure MNRE uses to set the subsidy.
Real quotes are often higher, because prices depend on the panel brand, the inverter, the height of the mounting structure, the wiring and your city. Prices published by one large installer in September 2026, for example, were about ₹2.3 to 2.4 lakh for a 3 kW system before subsidy. For a realistic answer, always enter the quote you’ve actually received.
Worked Examples
At MNRE’s benchmark cost (most states)
| System | Benchmark cost | Subsidy | You pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 kW | ₹50,000 | ₹30,000 | ₹20,000 |
| 2 kW | ₹1,00,000 | ₹60,000 | ₹40,000 |
| 3 kW | ₹1,45,000 | ₹78,000 | ₹67,000 |
| 5 kW | ₹2,35,000 | ₹78,000 | ₹1,57,000 |
With a real-world quote
Say you get a quote of ₹2,35,000 for a 3 kW system:
- Subsidy: ₹78,000, so your share is ₹1,57,000.
- If you borrow that at 5.75 per cent over 10 years, the EMI comes to about ₹1,723 a month.
- At around 120 units per kW a month, the system makes about 360 units. If you pay ₹7 a unit, that’s roughly ₹2,520 a month off your bill.
- So the monthly saving can be more than the EMI, and the system pays for itself in about five years, using these assumptions.
That last point is why many families take the loan: the panels can start paying for themselves from the first month.
How the Savings and Payback Are Estimated
Open “Savings and loan settings” in the calculator to adjust these:
- Units per kW per month: set to 120 by default, a rough planning figure installers often use. It’s lower in cloudy or hilly regions and in shaded homes, and can be higher in sunny regions.
- Your rate per unit: set to ₹7 by default. Check your own bill. The more you pay per unit, the more solar saves you.
- Loan interest: set to 5.75 per cent, the rate reported in July 2026 for the scheme’s collateral-free loans for systems up to 3 kW. It’s linked to the repo rate, so check the current rate with your bank.
- Loan years: set to 10, the repayment period reported for these loans.
The payback figure is a simple one: your share of the cost divided by a year’s savings. It doesn’t count interest, tariff changes or any income from exporting extra units, so treat it as a guide.
Ways to Bring Your Cost Down
- Size it to your use. Look at your average monthly units over a year. Going much above your needs adds cost without adding subsidy beyond 3 kW.
- Compare two or three quotes from vendors registered on the national portal, line by line.
- Ask about a state top-up. MNRE’s guidelines allow states to add their own subsidy, and some do.
- Check application and net-metering charges. According to MNRE, 32 states and UTs have removed them.
- Use made-in-India (DCR) panels. They’re required for the subsidy. Cheaper imported panels would cost you the whole ₹78,000.
Things That Can Cost You the Subsidy
- Using panels that aren’t domestically manufactured with Indian cells.
- Hiring a vendor who isn’t registered on the national portal.
- Installing on a non-residential connection, or an off-grid system.
- Having already taken a solar subsidy before.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much subsidy will I get for a 3 kW solar system?
₹78,000 in most states, and ₹85,800 in special category states.
2. How much subsidy is there for 1 kW and 2 kW?
₹30,000 for 1 kW and ₹60,000 for 2 kW in most states; ₹33,000 and ₹66,000 in special category states.
3. Do I get more subsidy for a 5 kW or 10 kW system?
No. The subsidy stops increasing at 3 kW.
4. What about a 2.5 kW system?
₹69,000 in most states: ₹60,000 for the first 2 kW plus ₹9,000 for the extra half kW.
5. Is the subsidy given to the vendor or to me?
To you. It’s credited directly to your bank account after the discom approves the installation.
6. What is MNRE’s benchmark cost?
₹50,000 per kW for the first 2 kW and ₹45,000 per kW after that, in most states. It’s used to work out the subsidy.
7. Why is my vendor’s quote higher than the benchmark?
Real prices depend on the brand, inverter, structure, wiring and location. Compare quotes and check what each includes.
8. How much will a 3 kW system save me?
At about 360 units a month and ₹7 a unit, roughly ₹2,500 a month. Your figure depends on sunlight and your tariff.
9. What will my EMI be?
For ₹1,57,000 at 5.75 per cent over 10 years, about ₹1,723 a month. Enter your own numbers in the calculator.
10. Does the calculator include state subsidies?
No. Only the central subsidy. Ask your discom whether your state adds more.
11. Which states are special category?
The North-Eastern states including Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Ladakh, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep.
12. How accurate is the payback figure?
It’s a simple estimate that ignores interest and tariff changes. Use it to compare options, not as a promise.
13. Does the calculator save my data?
No. It runs in your browser, and nothing is stored or sent.
Do the Maths Before the Vendor Does
Walk into the vendor conversation knowing your subsidy, your share of the cost and the EMI you can manage. Enter each quote you receive into the calculator, compare the payback, and pick the one that makes sense for your roof and your bill. A few minutes of maths now can save you thousands over the life of the panels.
The subsidy rules here come from MNRE’s guidelines for PM Surya Ghar. You can apply and track your application on the official PM Surya Ghar national portal.