Shri Santosh Kumar Sarangi (IAS), Secretary at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), officially launched the City Accelerator Programme today at the National Conference on Skill Development for Renewable Energy Workforce held at Atal Akshay Urja Bhawan in New Delhi. The initiative, implemented in collaboration with Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation (SSEF), aims to significantly boost rooftop solar (RTS) adoption across Indian cities.The programme is a flagship component of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY)—the world’s largest domestic rooftop solar scheme—and is central to India’s target of achieving 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.In its first phase, the programme will be rolled out in 30 cities across 10 states, with learnings used to scale operations to 100 cities. Urban areas, as major energy consumers, will be the primary focus, with tailored support to accelerate rooftop solar deployment.Key components of the City Accelerator Programme include:Technical assistance to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs)Capacity building and institutional strengtheningPolicy and regulatory support at the city levelThe programme will assist in identifying and overcoming local barriers to RTS adoption, design economic tools to showcase financial benefits to stakeholders, and guide enabling policy reform and innovative business models.It also emphasises awareness campaigns, skill development, and knowledge sharing through toolkits, best practices, and case studies. A dedicated cell has been established at MNRE, and implementation teams will be deployed in each participating city to ensure effective execution and monitoring.By fostering collaboration between city administrators, DISCOMs, and State Nodal Agencies (SNAs), the programme seeks to create solar-ready cities and lay the groundwork for replicable, scalable models that will reshape India’s urban energy landscape.The City Accelerator Programme stands as a crucial step in India’s clean energy transition, aligning with national commitments to sustainability, energy access, and economic empowerment through renewable technology.