Centre nudges States to view farm solarisation as a route to wiping off ₹2.4 lakh crore subsidy bill

Indian States collectively spend around Rs 2.4 lakh crore annually to subsidize electricity for agricultural and domestic consumers, said Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, adding that the Centre’s solar power schemes are increasingly designed not just to add clean energy capacity but also to convince the States that this subsidy bill can be eliminated over time.

“Different States give different amounts. So, as they adopt more and more farm solarization and more and more rooftop solarization, they will save to that extent on this huge subsidy outlay,” Mr. Sarangi said. Hindu in an interview.