The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has released updated guidelines for vendor registration under the recently PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana rooftop solar programme. With a budget of Rs 750 billion, the program seeks to expand residential rooftop solar capacity and enable households to produce their own electricity through the fiscal year 2026-27. REC Limited has been chosen as the national registering authority for new vendor registrations.
To register, vendors must provide a performance bank guarantee of 2.5 million, valid for a minimum of five years. Once registered, vendors can install rooftop solar systems in any district across the country. However, they can designate the specific states and districts where they plan to operate, enabling them to be listed appropriately in the consumer search list.
The registration procedure described in the previous grid-connected rooftop system phase II programme will be followed at the state level. Vendors must apply to the appropriate distribution company or designated state agency, along with Rs 250,000 bank guarantee. State authorities are permitted to collect a single performance bank guarantee Rs 250,000 from vendors to cover the entire state. Vendor registrations are valid for five years and can be renewed for an additional five years by extending the bank guarantee, with no additional cost.
