Parliament Question: City Accelerator Program under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 468 ANSWERED ON 03.02.2026 CITY ACCELERATOR PROGRAM UNDER PM SURYA GHAR: MUFT BIJLI YOJANA 468. SHRI BRIJ LAL DR. KALPANA SAINI SHRI MITHLESH KUMAR SMT. MAYA NAROLIYA SHRI DEEPAK PRAKASH SHRI UJJWAL DEORAO NIKAM SHRI AMAR PAL MAURYA SHRI BABURAM NISHAD SHRI NARHARI AMIN SHRI SUBHASH BARALA Will the Minister of NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state: (a) the details of the objectives, implementation framework and key deliverables of the city Accelerator Programme launched to accelerate adoption of rooftop solar energy in urban areas; (b) the details of the criteria for selection of the initial 30 cities across 10 States and the roles envisaged for urban local bodies, electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs) and State nodal agencies under the programme; and (c) the extent of technical assistance, capacity-building and policy support proposed to be provided to participating cities, including deployment of dedicated teams? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER (SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK) (a) to (c) Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in collaboration with the Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation has launched the City Accelerator Program in June 2025, with main objective to fast- track rooftop solar deployment under PM–Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSG: MBY) across 100 cities nationwide in two phases. In the initial phase 30 cities across 10 States have been selected based on criteria including: • Urban population size and applications received on the PMSG Portal; • Rooftop solar potential and existing adoption levels; • Readiness and capacity of DISCOMs and State Nodal Agencies; and • Willingness of States and Urban Local Bodies to actively participate and support implementation. The implementation framework follows a three-tier coordinated structure, wherein the MNRE, provides overall programme design, coordination and monitoring; State Governments and State Nodal Agencies facilitate adoption through policy support and coordination with DISCOMs; and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) drive city-level awareness, facilitation and capacity-building activities on the ground. The City Accelerator Programme is designed to address city-specific barriers to rooftop solar adoption through targeted interventions, including establishment of dedicated City Accelerator Cells, strengthen stakeholder coordination with DISCOMs, State Nodal Agencies, vendors and ULBs, regular capacity- building programmes and awareness drives, and improved facilitation and grievance redressal mechanisms. *****