In a strategic move to accelerate rural solar adoption, 63 villages across six districts in Maharashtra have been selected for the Model Solar Village Competition under the Centre’s flagship Pradhan Mantri Suryaghar Muft Bijli Yojana. The competition, aimed at developing one model solar-powered village per district, offers a ₹1 crore incentive to the village that achieves the highest solar energy generation capacity within six months.
The implementation of the scheme in Maharashtra is being Strategised and monitored by Lokesh Chandra (IAS), Chairman and Managing Director of Mahavitaran, which is also the state’s designated nodal agency. Under his leadership, Mahavitaran has already launched its own Solar Village Scheme to make 100 villages energy self-reliant—14 villages have achieved this milestone to date.
Villages with a minimum population of 5,000 are eligible to participate. Selected villages are being encouraged to adopt rooftop solar systems under the PM Suryaghar scheme and to power key public infrastructure—such as street lights and water supply systems—through solar energy.
The participating districts include Akola (26 villages), Buldhana (15), Wardha (9), Parbhani (6), Bhandara (6), and Gondia (1). The competition has commenced and will continue until November or December, depending on district timelines.
District-level committees, typically chaired by IAS officers, have been constituted to supervise implementation, facilitate coordination, and monitor outcomes.
The PM Suryaghar scheme, approved on February 29, 2024, offers direct subsidies of up to ₹78,000 for rooftop solar installations. It targets domestic consumers with monthly usage up to 300 units, enabling them to receive free electricity and earn from surplus energy. Over 2 lakh households in Maharashtra have already availed its benefits.
