Parliament Question: Schemes for Solar Power Generation

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 543 ANSWERED ON 23/07/2025 SCHEMES FOR SOLAR POWER GENERATION 543. SHRI DEVESH SHAKYA Will the Minister of NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state: (a) the details of the major schemes and programmes launched by the Government with a view to achieve 280 GW of solar power in the country by the year 2030; (b) whether the Government is aware that domestic companies are dependent on other countries especially China for solar modules, inverters and other components related to solar energy, thereby affecting the competitive ability of these companies; and (c) if so, the initiatives proposed by the Government in the coming year for indigenous production and developing complete manufacturing ecosystem of solar energy equipment, especially for setting up local manufacturing units in districts like Etawah, Auraiya, Kannauj, Farrukhabad, Mainpuri, Etah and Kasganj of Uttar Pradesh? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER (SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK) (a): The Government has launched various schemes to promote and accelerate solar energy capacity in the country. The list of some of the major operational scheme is given at Annexure-I (b) The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, has been consistently bringing out policies to boost domestic manufacturing capacity of solar modules, inverters and other solar components related to solar energy and thereby reducing the import dependency. Various initiatives taken, inter-alia, include those mentioned at Annexure-II. (c) The Government of India is implementing the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for High Efficiency Solar PV Modules, for achieving domestic manufacturing capacity of Giga Watt (GW) scale in High Efficiency Solar PV modules, with an outlay of Rs. 24,000 crore. Under the Scheme, Letters of Award have been issued for setting up of 48,337 MW of fully/ partially integrated solar PV module manufacturing units. The manufacturers selected under PLI Scheme for High Efficiency Solar PV Modules, can set-up their manufacturing plants anywhere in India, including Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh has also brought out the Uttar Pradesh Solar Energy Policy 2022, Uttar Pradesh Bio Energy Policy 2022, and Uttar Pradesh Green Hydrogen Policy 2024, for promotion of renewable energy projects in the state. *****Annexure-I Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 543 for 23.07.2025 regarding ‘Schemes for Solar Power Generation’ List of Operational Schemes to Promote Solar Energy 1. Schemes for Development of Solar Parks and Ultra-mega Solar Power Projects. Under the scheme, the infrastructure such as land, roads, power evacuation system water facilities are developed with all statutory clearances/approvals. Thus, the scheme helps expeditious development of utility-scale solar projects in the country. 2. PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana for installing rooftop solar and providing free electricity up to 300 units every month for One Crore households. 3. Production Linked Incentive scheme ‘National Programme on High Efficiency Solar PV Modules’ for achieving manufacturing capacity of Giga Watt (GW) scale in High Efficiency Solar PV modules (Tranche- I & II). 4. PM-KUSUM Scheme for setting up decentralized solar or other renewable energy power plants, installation of stand-alone solar agriculture pumps, and solarization of existing grid-connected agriculture pumps, including feeder-level solarization. The scheme benefits not only farmers but also the States and DISCOMs. 5. Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) Scheme Phase-II (Government Producer Scheme) for setting up grid-connected Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Power Projects by Government Producers, using domestically manufactured solar PV cells and modules, with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support, for self-use or use by Government/ Government entities, either directly or through Distribution Companies (DISCOMS). 6. New Solar Power Scheme (for Tribal and PVTG Habitations/Villages) under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) and Dharti Aabha Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA JGUA) with a provision for providing off-grid Solar Lighting where electricity supply through grid is not techno- economically feasible.Annexure-II Annexure referred to in reply of part (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 543 for 23.07.2025 regarding ‘Schemes for Solar Power Generation’ Initiatives taken to increase domestic production of solar PV modules and other renewable energy equipment, inter-alia, include: (i) Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme: The Government of India is implementing the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for High Efficiency Solar PV Modules, for achieving domestic manufacturing capacity of Giga Watt (GW) scale in High Efficiency Solar PV modules, with an outlay of Rs. 24,000 crore. Under the Scheme, Letters of Award have been issued for setting up of 48,337 MW of fully/ partially integrated solar PV module manufacturing units. (ii) Domestic Content Requirement (DCR): Under some of the current schemes of the MNRE, namely CPSU Scheme Phase-II, PM-KUSUM Components B & C, and PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, wherein government subsidy is given, it has been mandated to source solar PV cells and modules from domestic sources. (iii) Preference to ‘Make in India’ in Public Procurement: In accordance with Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) ‘Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India), Order’, MNRE had notified Purchase Preference (linked with local content) for RE sector which, inter-alia, identified list of all goods and services or works in respect of which there is sufficient local capacity and local competition is available and mandated that only “Class-I local supplier” shall be eligible to bid for the above goods/services/works with the mandate that minimum local content should be at least 50%. (iv) Imposition of Basic Customs Duty on import of solar PV cells, modules, Solar Inverters and Solar Glass: The Government has imposed Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on import of solar PV cells, modules, solar inverters, and solar glass. (v) Discontinuation of Customs Duty Concessions: MNRE has discontinued issuance of Customs Duty Concession Certificates for import of material /equipment for initial setting up of solar PV power projects with effect from 02.02.2021. (v) Exemption of Custom Duty on capital goods for manufacture of Solar Cells and Modules: The Government has exempted customs duty on import of the goods specified in List 41 of the notification No. 30/2024-Customs dated 23.07.2024, for the manufacturer of solar PV cells and modules.