What documents are needed for solar panel installation?
For a residential rooftop solar installation in India, you typically need proof of identity, proof of address, a recent electricity bill, and a passport-size photograph. If you apply for the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana subsidy, you submit these on the National Portal when you register. The portal also asks for your bank account details so the subsidy can be transferred after the system is commissioned.
Your DISCOM may ask for additional documents when you apply for net metering. These often include a copy of the solar system's technical specifications, a single-line diagram, and a net metering application form. The installer you choose through the portal usually prepares the technical documents and helps you file the net metering application.
Keep scanned copies of all documents ready before you start the online application. The portal accepts PDF or image files, and each file must be under a certain size. If you are a tenant, you need a no-objection certificate from the property owner, because the solar system is attached to the building and the electricity connection is in the owner's name.
Documents for PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana subsidy
The PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana has been approved with a total outlay of Rs.75,021 crore for installing rooftop solar and providing free electricity up to 300 units every month for One Crore households. The scheme provides a CFA of 60% of system cost for 2 kW systems and 40% of additional system cost for systems between 2 to 3 kW capacity, capped at 3 kW; at current benchmark prices this means Rs 30,000 subsidy for 1 kW system, Rs 60,000 for 2 kW systems and Rs 78,000 for 3 kW systems or higher.
To claim this subsidy, you must apply through the National Portal. The households will apply for subsidy through the National Portal and will be able to select a suitable vendor for installing rooftop solar. When you register, the portal asks for your state, DISCOM, electricity consumer number, and the documents listed above. After the vendor installs the system and the DISCOM inspects it, you submit a redemption request on the portal. With all credentials entered correctly on the National Portal, the average time taken in processing the CFA is around 15 days after the redemption request made by the consumer.
Documents for a solar loan
If you take a loan for the solar system, the bank will ask for the same identity and address documents, plus income proof such as salary slips or income tax returns. Collateral-free loans are available from nationalized banks at a concessional interest rate of repo-rate plus 50 bps, i.e., 5.75% per annum for the present, with a tenure of 10 years. The bank may also ask for a quotation from the solar installer and a copy of the subsidy approval from the National Portal.
Documents for net metering
Net metering lets you export surplus solar power to the grid and adjust it against your electricity bill. Through this scheme, the households will be able to save electricity bills as well as earn additional income through sale of surplus power to DISCOMs. To apply for net metering, you submit a net metering application form to your DISCOM, along with the solar system's technical details, a single-line diagram, and a copy of the installation completion report. The DISCOM then installs a bidirectional meter or replaces your existing meter.
The exact forms and fees vary by state and DISCOM. Check your DISCOM's website or the National Portal for the current list. Your installer usually knows the local requirements and can help you complete the paperwork.
What happens after you submit the documents?
Once you submit the documents on the National Portal, the DISCOM verifies them and gives technical feasibility approval. Then you select a vendor from the portal's list and the vendor installs the system. After installation, the DISCOM inspects the system and approves net metering. You then submit a redemption request for the subsidy. With all credentials entered correctly on the National Portal, the average time taken in processing the CFA is around 15 days after the redemption request made by the consumer.
A 3 kW system will be able to generate more than 300 units a month on an average for a household. That covers the free electricity limit under the scheme for many homes. The rise in demand is in line with the progression of summer conditions across the country, with electricity consumption witnessing a significant growth of 8.9% during the month of April 2026, so a rooftop system can reduce your grid dependence when consumption is highest.
- Subsidy for 2 kW
- 60% of system cost, Rs 60,000 at current benchmark prices
- Subsidy for 3 kW
- Rs 78,000 at current benchmark prices
- Loan interest rate
- Repo rate + 50 bps, currently 5.75% per annum
- Subsidy processing time
- Around 15 days after redemption request
- Generation from 3 kW
- More than 300 units a month on average
Indicative solar system prices with installation
- 2 kW on-grid residentialStarting price range, with installation ₹1,75,000–2,13,000 / system
- 3 kW on-grid residentialStarting price range, with installation ₹2,15,000–2,47,000 / system
How to keep the paperwork simple
Most of the document work happens online through the National Portal. Keep your Aadhaar, electricity bill, and bank passbook handy. If you are applying as a housing society, the society's registration certificate and a resolution from the managing committee are needed. For a bungalow or independent house, the property documents may be asked for address proof.
Your installer will handle the technical documents for net metering, but you should still keep copies of everything you submit. If the DISCOM asks for a correction, you can respond quickly. The subsidy is transferred to your bank account after the DISCOM approves the installation, so make sure the account details on the portal match your bank records.
Common mistakes to avoid
One common mistake is uploading an electricity bill that is more than three months old. The DISCOM uses the consumer number on the bill to verify your connection, so the bill must be current. Another mistake is entering the wrong bank account number or IFSC code, which delays the subsidy. Check every field before you submit.
If you are a tenant, do not apply without the owner's no-objection certificate. The subsidy and net metering are linked to the electricity connection, which belongs to the owner. The owner must be the applicant or must authorise you in writing.
Where to get help with documents
Your solar installer is the first person to ask about documents. Installers who are empanelled on the National Portal know the current requirements for your state and DISCOM. They can also help you fill the net metering application and prepare the single-line diagram.
For official information, use the National Portal for PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. Your DISCOM's website has the net metering forms and fee schedule. Banks that offer solar loans list their document requirements on their websites. Always check the latest rules on the official portal, because scheme details can change.