Kashi's rooftops go solar: Varanasi climbs into India's top 10 for home solar

A quiet energy makeover is spreading across Varanasi's rooftops. Under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana — the central scheme that helps households put solar panels on their roofs — the city has climbed into the country's top 10 districts for home solar adoption, and now stands second within Uttar Pradesh, just behind Lucknow. According to figures shared in May 2026, tens of thousands of Varanasi homes have already switched on rooftop panels, with many more applications in the pipeline. For families, the appeal is straightforward: once the panels are up and the government subsidy is credited, monthly electricity bills shrink sharply, and any surplus power can be sold back to the grid. Officials say the rollout is also creating work for local installers and vendors across the district. There is a cleaner-city dividend too, one that fits Kashi's growing green ambitions: every solar roof trims the city's carbon footprint and eases the load on conventional power. If you own a home in Varanasi with an unshaded roof, the scheme is worth a look — applications and eligibility checks go through the official PM Surya Ghar portal, where the available subsidy is listed up front. Neighbourhood by neighbourhood, Kashi is steadily writing itself into India's rooftop-solar success story.

Compiled by HelloBanaras from public sources: Indian PSU · PM Surya Ghar (official portal)