Navigating India's solar policies: a guide for new investors
Rooftop solar policy in India is really three separate layers stacked on top of each other: a national subsidy, a state net-metering regulation, and your local DISCOM's own paperwork process.
PM Surya Ghar, in brief
The national scheme subsidises residential rooftop systems directly to the homeowner's bank account after commissioning, on DCR-certified panels installed by an empanelled vendor.
Net metering is a state-by-state DISCOM rule
Export tariffs, billing cycles and sanctioned-load limits are set by each state's electricity regulator and administered by the local DISCOM — this is why the same system can look financially different in Bengaluru versus Chittoor.
What changes if you're investing, not just installing
For an investment property or a portfolio of rooftops, the DISCOM approval process is per-connection, not per-owner — each site needs its own feasibility, net-metering application and inspection.
- Confirm DISCOM feasibility before committing to a site
- Track subsidy eligibility separately per connection
- Budget for inspection timelines, which vary by DISCOM
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