The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister has approved the scaling up of budget from Rs. 600 crores to Rs. 5,000 crores for implementation of Grid Connected Rooftops systems over a period of five years up to 2019-20 under National Solar Mission (NSM). The Ministry is targeting to install 4200 MW Solar Rooftop systems in these five years with the current approval.
The government has revised the 20,000 MW solar energy installation target to 1,00,000 MW by 2022 – of which 40,000 MW will come through rooftop grid-connected solar systems. This approval will boost the rooftop grid-connected solar power systems and will act as a catalyst to support the 40,000 MW target.
The Ministry has said that the capital subsidy of 30% will be provided to the general category states and UTs, whereas capital subsidy of 70% will be provided to special category states:
Sikkim
Uttarakhand
Himachal Pradesh
Jammu & Kashmir
Lakshadweep
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
However, the commercial and industrial private sector will not be entitled to any subsidies as they are eligible for other benefits such as accelerated depreciation, tax holidays, custom duty concessions, excise duty exemptions, etc.