Parliament Question: Alternative Energy Resources in Tribal Areas

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1615 ANSWERED ON 29.07.2026 ALTERNATIVE ENERGY RESOURCES IN TRIBAL AREA

1615. SMT. HIMADRI SINGH

Will the Minister of NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state:

(a) whether any Centrally Sponsored Schemes are currently being implemented to promote alternative energy sources in tribal areas, if so, the details thereof;

(b) if so, the details of the financial assistance provided under such schemes during the last three years;

(c) whether the Government has set any specific target for the complete electrification of habitations belonging to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether any subsidy is being provided by the Union Government to small shopkeepers/commercial premises operators for installing solar panels on their commercial establishments;

(e) if so, the details of the scheme thereof; and

(f) if not, whether the Government is considering any new subsidy scheme to encourage small businessmen to adopt solar energy for commercial use in the tribal regions and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER (SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)

(a) & (b) Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is implementing the New Solar Power Scheme (for PVTG and Tribal Habitations/Villages) under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) and Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) for the electrification of un-electrified households (HHs) in PVTG and Tribal habitations/villages, solarisation of Multi-Purpose Centres (MPCs) in PVTG areas; and solarisation of public institutions in identified tribal habitations/villages through off-grid solar systems; where electricity supply through grid is not techno-economically feasible. The New Solar Power Scheme has provision of 100 % Central Financial Assisatnce for different components of the scheme as per details given below.

Central Sl.

Components Share No. (100%)1. Provision of 0.3 kW Solar off-grid system for Tribal and PVTG HHs Rs. 50,000 per HH or as per actual cost whichever is lower

2. Solar street lighting and provision of lighting in MPCs of PVTG areas Rs. 1 lakh (under PM JANMAN component only) per MPC

3. Solarisation of public institutions through off-grid solar systems (under DA Rs. 1 lakh JGUA component only) per kW with maximum capacity of 20 kW at an institution Under New Solar Power Scheme, as on 30.06.2026, central finance assistance (CFA) of Rs.

57.10 Cr. has been released.

(c) The New Solar Power Scheme has provision to cover electrification of One Lakh un- electrified households (HHs) in Tribal and PVTG areas identified by Ministry of Tribal Affairs

(MoTA) by provision of off-grid solar systems. The scheme also includes a provision for Solarisation of 1500 Multi-Purpose Centres (MPCs) in PVTG areas as approved under PM JANMAN. Under the New Solar Power Scheme, as on 30.06.2026, 11,838 households are reported to be electrified through solar off-grid systems in different states.

As per the information received from Ministry of Power, States are being supported for grid electrification of un- electrified households under the ongoing Revamped Distribution Sector Schemes (RDSS), wherever feasible. Under the scheme, works for electrification of PVTG households, identified under PM-JANMAN, amounting to Rs. 521.45 Cr. with gross budgetary support of Rs. 331.49 Cr. have been sanctioned in 13 States for providing on grid connectivity to 1,39,126 PVTG households as per the scheme guidelines. As on 24.07.2026, 1,38,620 households belonging to PVTG have been electrified.

(d) to (f) No subsidy is being provided by the Union Government to small shopkeepers/commercial premises operators for installing solar panels on their commercial establishments.

No such proposal for considering any new subsidy scheme to encourage small businessmen to adopt solar energy for commercial use in the tribal regions is under consideration. *****