India Adds 2.7 GW Rooftop Solar In Q1 2026

01 Jun 2026 CW Team

The residential segment emerged as the dominant contributor, representing 82 per cent of rooftop installations in Q1 2026, while industrial, commercial and government installations comprised 11 per cent, seven per cent and zero point four per cent respectively. The report indicated that installations under the capital expenditure model accounted for 81 per cent of quarterly additions, with the operational expenditure or RESCO model making up around 19 per cent.

Mercom India Research noted that strong residential demand under the PM Surya Ghar programme continued to underpin growth, and that future expansion would depend on execution efficiency, access to financing, DISCOM coordination and grid readiness. The analysis warned that sustained momentum would require improvements in project delivery and financing mechanisms at scale.

Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat led state-level additions, contributing 17 per cent, 16 per cent and 15 per cent of quarterly new capacity respectively, and continued to top cumulative installations. India’s cumulative rooftop solar capacity reached 23.5 GW as of March 2026, with the top ten states accounting for nearly 80 per cent of cumulative deployments.

The report highlighted that Assam recorded the highest compounded quarterly growth rate between Q1 2025 and Q1 2026 at 40 per cent, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. Tender activity was mixed, with rooftop solar tenders totalling 482 megawatt (MW) issued during the quarter, a decline of over 38 per cent quarter-on-quarter but nearly 32 per cent higher year-on-year, while auctioned capacity stood at 269 MW, down 67 per cent from Q4 2025.

System costs were largely stable across most module technologies during the quarter, although systems using Chinese modules experienced a noticeable increase in pricing, underscoring supply and tariff pressures amid robust residential demand.

"Join industry leaders at RAHSTA Expo, India's premier platform for roads, highways and traffic infrastructure. Register now to explore innovations, network with experts and shape the future of mobility."

India added two point seven gigawatt (GW) of rooftop solar capacity in the first quarter of 2026, marking a quarter-on-quarter increase of 25 per cent and a year-on-year rise of 125 per cent, according to a Mercom India Research report. Rooftop capacity accounted for 18 per cent of the country’s total solar installations in the quarter, with the PM Surya Ghar programme, subsidy-backed systems, simplified approval processes and stronger state-level implementation cited as key drivers. The residential segment emerged as the dominant contributor, representing 82 per cent of rooftop installations in Q1 2026, while industrial, commercial and government installations comprised 11 per cent, seven per cent and zero point four per cent respectively. The report indicated that installations under the capital expenditure model accounted for 81 per cent of quarterly additions, with the operational expenditure or RESCO model making up around 19 per cent. Mercom India Research noted that strong residential demand under the PM Surya Ghar programme continued to underpin growth, and that future expansion would depend on execution efficiency, access to financing, DISCOM coordination and grid readiness. The analysis warned that sustained momentum would require improvements in project delivery and financing mechanisms at scale. Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat led state-level additions, contributing 17 per cent, 16 per cent and 15 per cent of quarterly new capacity respectively, and continued to top cumulative installations. India’s cumulative rooftop solar capacity reached 23.5 GW as of March 2026, with the top ten states accounting for nearly 80 per cent of cumulative deployments. The report highlighted that Assam recorded the highest compounded quarterly growth rate between Q1 2025 and Q1 2026 at 40 per cent, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. Tender activity was mixed, with rooftop solar tenders totalling 482 megawatt (MW) issued during the quarter, a decline of over 38 per cent quarter-on-quarter but nearly 32 per cent higher year-on-year, while auctioned capacity stood at 269 MW, down 67 per cent from Q4 2025. System costs were largely stable across most module technologies during the quarter, although systems using Chinese modules experienced a noticeable increase in pricing, underscoring supply and tariff pressures amid robust residential demand.

Infrastructure Transport

15 Jul 2026

Railways To Operate Over 300 Special Trains For Rath Yatra

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that Indian Railways (IR) will operate more than 300 special trains for the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in Odisha and over 100 special trains during the Onam festival in Keralam. He flagged off the Nanded–Mumbai and Tanakpur–Nanded Express trains and inaugurated the extension of the Tanakpur–Pilibhit service up to Shahjahanpur via video conference from Rail Sadan in Bhubaneswar. He noted that the summer season, which concluded on 30 June, had seen a record 15,000 special trains. Vaishnaw stated that the newly launched services are intende..

Infrastructure Transport

15 Jul 2026

Vande Bharat Express To Start From Tripura Soon

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said the Vande Bharat Express will commence operations from Tripura in the coming days after he flagged off the Agartala–Karimganj MEMU service at Agartala Railway Station. He recalled the rail history of the state, noting that a metre-gauge service first arrived in 1964 and that broad gauge reached Agartala in 2008 following national projects and later upgrades under the Act East policy. The event was described as a milestone for regional connectivity and the MEMU was presented as the first electric passenger train to originate from Tripura.\n\nSaha said he..

Infrastructure Urban

15 Jul 2026

MEMU Suspension Disrupts Commuters Between Vadodara And Dahod

The Vadodara–Dahod Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) service has been temporarily suspended for 26 days after its rake was diverted to Odisha to manage the surge in passenger traffic during the annual Rath Yatra in Puri. Indian Railways redeployed several MEMU rakes from different zones to meet the additional travel demand for the festival scheduled from the seventh of July to the second of August. As a result, train numbers 69233 and 69234 operating between Vadodara and Dahod will remain cancelled for the duration. Railway authorities advised passengers to use alternative train service..