Jammu and Kashmir has achieved a significant milestone by declaring 20 Model Solar Villages under the Prime Minister’s ambitious ‘PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana’. This declaration places the Union Territory among the forefront of regions in the country implementing the initiative, as informed by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in the Rajya Sabha.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that as of July 16, 2026, Ladakh had also declared two Model Solar Villages. Collectively, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh contribute 22 such villages out of a total of 455 declared across 27 States and Union Territories nationwide. Jammu and Kashmir’s 20 villages constitute approximately 4.4 per cent of the national total, positioning it ahead of many other states and union territories in the adoption of this renewable energy program. Uttar Pradesh leads the national effort with 70 Model Solar Villages, followed by Rajasthan with 41, Madhya Pradesh with 38, Tamil Nadu with 36, and Chhattisgarh with 32. Ladakh’s two villages are on par with those declared in Goa and Tripura.
These figures were officially submitted by the Ministry in response to Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1095, which was answered on July 28.
The Model Solar Village component of the scheme is designed to foster widespread installation of rooftop solar systems and promote the use of clean and affordable energy in rural areas. The overarching objective is to develop at least one model village in each district to serve as an example and encourage broader adoption.
According to the Ministry’s guidelines, a village typically needs to have a population exceeding 5,000, based on the latest Census data, to be considered for this initiative. However, a lower population threshold of more than 2,000 is applicable to Special Category States and Union Territories. This includes Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, along with Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, the North-Eastern States, Sikkim, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep, acknowledging their unique geographical and developmental contexts.
In districts where fewer than 10 villages meet the defined population criteria, District Level Committees have the discretion to select the 10 most populous villages for consideration. The Ministry also noted that these committees may extend the initiative to encompass a Model Solar Panchayat, thereby broadening the scope of local clean energy development.
The PM Surya Ghar scheme offers substantial Central Financial Assistance for residential households. In Special Category States and Union Territories, households receive Rs 33,000 per kWp for the initial 2 kWp of rooftop solar capacity, a higher rate compared to Rs 30,000 per kWp in other regions. For an additional 1 kWp, the assistance remains elevated at Rs 19,800 per kWp in these special category areas, versus Rs 18,000 per kWp elsewhere. Assistance is capped at 3 kWp, with no further aid available for capacities exceeding this limit.
For Group Housing Societies and Residential Welfare Associations, the scheme provides financial assistance of Rs 19,800 per kWp in Special Category States and Union Territories for the development of common facilities. This includes infrastructure for electric vehicle charging, with support available for capacities up to 500 kWp, subject to the individual household limit of 3 kWp.
The Ministry further detailed that the Model Solar Village component allocates financial support of up to Rs 1 crore per village for development purposes, with the aim of establishing one such village in every district. Local bodies, including Gram Panchayats, are also incentivised with a grant of Rs 1,000 for each rooftop solar installation facilitated, promoting local engagement and accelerating the uptake of solar energy.
Nationally, the declaration of Model Solar Villages has reached 455 across various districts. Jammu and Kashmir’s achievement of 20 such villages surpasses the numbers reported by states like Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, highlighting its progressive approach to renewable energy adoption in rural settings.
The primary objectives of this initiative are to increase the adoption of rooftop solar power in rural communities, enhance access to clean and affordable electricity, reduce reliance on traditional energy sources, and lower electricity expenses for households. Concurrently, it aims to contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing carbon emissions.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
