Updated for 2026 · PM Surya Ghar residential rooftop-solar central subsidy. Confirm current rates on the official portal.
- ₹30,000/kW for the first 2 kW; ₹18,000 for the 3rd kW.
- Capped at ₹78,000 for systems of 3 kW or more.
- GHS/RWA common facilities: ₹18,000/kW.
- Subsidy is credited to your bank account after commissioning.
- Some states add a top-up — check the official portal.
How the subsidy is worked out
The PM Surya Ghar subsidy is slab-based on system size, not on cost. The first two kilowatts earn the most (₹30,000 each), the third earns less (₹18,000), and beyond three kilowatts you get nothing extra — the subsidy is capped at ₹78,000 however large your system. That cap is deliberate: the scheme is aimed at typical household consumption, so a 3 kW system is the "sweet spot" where you extract the full subsidy. Sizing much above 3 kW makes sense only if your electricity use genuinely needs it, because the extra panels are unsubsidised.
Choosing your system size
A rough guide: a 1 kW system suits a small home with modest use, 2 kW a typical household, and 3 kW a larger family with air-conditioning or higher consumption. Your actual need depends on your monthly units — a good installer will size it from your past bills. From a pure subsidy standpoint, if your consumption supports it, 3 kW gives the best subsidy-per-rupee, since it captures the full ₹78,000. Below that, each kW up to 2 is equally well subsidised, so a 2 kW system captures ₹60,000 and remains excellent value.
What the subsidy does — and doesn't — cover
The subsidy is a partial grant against the system cost, credited to your bank account after the system is installed and commissioned. It does not make solar free — you still pay the balance of the installation cost, though the subsidy plus the electricity-bill savings usually pay the system back over a few years. Treat the calculator above as the subsidy figure, not the total cost or the savings; those depend on your installer's quote and your consumption. Always get the system installed through a registered vendor via the official portal, because the subsidy is only released for portal-registered, properly commissioned systems.
How to claim it
Register on the PM Surya Ghar portal, apply, get the system installed by a registered vendor, and after commissioning and net-meter installation the subsidy is credited to your bank account (typically within a few weeks). Keep your electricity consumer number and bank details ready. This is a central scheme, so it applies across Tamil Nadu — and if the state announces a top-up, that is added on top of the central figure the calculator shows.
A worked example
Suppose you install a 3 kW rooftop system. The subsidy is ₹30,000 for the first kW, ₹30,000 for the second, and ₹18,000 for the third — ₹78,000 in total, the maximum. Now suppose you install 5 kW because you have high consumption: the subsidy is still ₹78,000, because the cap applies. The extra 2 kW is entirely at your own cost. This is why, purely on subsidy efficiency, 3 kW is the point of diminishing returns — beyond it you are paying full price per panel.
Subsidy vs savings — two different numbers
People often blur two things: the subsidy (a one-time grant, which this calculator gives) and the monthly savings on your electricity bill (an ongoing benefit that depends on your consumption and net-metering). The subsidy reduces your upfront cost; the savings are what make solar pay off over time. A typical residential system recovers its net cost in a few years through bill savings, after which the electricity is effectively free for the panels' life. Judge the investment on both — the subsidy lowers the entry cost, and the savings are the return.
Common mistakes to avoid
Two things trip people up. First, over-sizing for the subsidy — installing more than 3 kW hoping for more grant; there isn't any. Second, using an unregistered installer — the subsidy is only released for systems installed by a vendor registered on the official portal and properly commissioned with a net meter. Going off-portal to save a little on installation can cost you the entire ₹78,000. Always route the job through pmsuryaghar.gov.in.
Related guides
See the TN government salary calculator, the TN vehicle road tax calculator, and the TN guideline value.
Frequently asked questions
How much subsidy for 3 kW?
₹78,000 — the maximum. (₹30,000×2 + ₹18,000.)
Is bigger than 3 kW subsidised more?
No — it is capped at ₹78,000.
How is it paid?
Credited to your bank account after commissioning.
Does it cover the whole cost?
No — it is a partial grant; you pay the balance.
Where do I apply?
On the official portal pmsuryaghar.gov.in, and get the system installed by a vendor registered there so the subsidy is released.
About ComplyKraft. Built by Dinesh Kumar S in Chennai — B.Sc. Mathematics, M.Sc. IT. Plain-language guides to Tamil Nadu government services and schemes.
Disclaimer: Informational guide, updated 2026. This is not official government communication. Subsidy rates and the claim process are set by the Government of India (PM Surya Ghar) and can change, and states may add a top-up — confirm at pmsuryaghar.gov.in before relying on this.