Aiming to make solar energy accessible to economically weaker households, the Government of Maharashtra has launched the Swayampurna Maharashtra Residential Rooftop (SMART) Solar Scheme. The initiative focuses on reducing power costs for families with monthly consumption below 100 units, including those from BPL, Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) categories.

The scheme proposes a tiered subsidy structure to minimise upfront installation expenses. A 1 kW rooftop solar system, costing around Rs 50,000, will require only a small contribution from beneficiaries. BPL consumers will pay roughly Rs 2,500, SC and ST households around Rs 5,000, and other low-use consumers about Rs 10,000 after central and state subsidies are applied.

The government has allocated Rs 33 million for 2025–26 and Rs 32.5 million for 2026–27 to fund the initiative. Overall, the scheme is projected to cover five lakh households, of which 150,000 belong to the BPL category and 350,000 fall under the general low-consumption group.

Implementation will be managed by the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), while installation agencies will be responsible for maintenance over a five-year period. Areas such as Melghat, Nandurbar, and Gadchiroli have been prioritised to ensure the inclusion of remote and tribal regions.

By supporting rooftop solar adoption through a 90–95% subsidy, the state aims to help eligible homes reduce or eliminate electricity bills, strengthening energy self-reliance among low-income consumers.