In a major step towards promoting green energy and combating pollution, the Delhi Cabinet approved a slew of measures including an additional subsidy of Rs 30,000 for residential solar panel installations, procurement of advanced anti-pollution machinery, and renaming of a scholarship scheme for school students.
The move to offer a Rs 30,000 subsidy—Rs 10,000 per kilowatt—for rooftop solar systems is aimed at boosting the adoption of renewable energy in the national capital. This subsidy comes in addition to the Rs 78,000 available under the Centre’s PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, taking the total financial support to Rs 1.08 lakh — the highest offered under any rooftop solar scheme in India.
According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office, the government plans to install rooftop solar systems in 2.3 lakh residential units over the next three years at an estimated cost of Rs 50 crore.
“Under this scheme, an average monthly saving of Rs 4,200 is expected for each household. This is a big step towards building a ‘Green Delhi’,” Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said.
Power Minister Ashish Sood said the enhanced subsidy is expected to make solar energy adoption significantly more accessible. Additionally, the government will collaborate with financial institutions to offer easy loans to cover remaining installation costs, which average around Rs 90,000. The initiative is designed to ensure residents can set up solar panels with zero upfront cost.
In another key decision, the Cabinet approved the procurement of 250 water sprinkler machines with anti-smog guns and 70 mechanical road sweeping machines to tackle dust pollution in the city. Dump vehicles and water tankers will also be procured as part of the comprehensive sanitation and dust control plan.
These machines will be deployed on roads maintained by the Public Works Department (PWD) and are expected to be fully operational before the onset of winter, when pollution levels in Delhi typically spike.
“The environment department will provide the necessary budget under the Pollution Control and Emergency Measures scheme,” CM Gupta said.
The Cabinet also approved the renaming of the Chief Minister Scholarship for Meritorious Students to the Lal Bahadur Shastri Scholarship for Meritorious Students (LBS), restoring its original name.
First introduced in 2019–20, the LBS scholarship was later renamed under the previous administration. The current government has reinstated the original name while retaining existing eligibility criteria.
Under the scheme, students from Classes VII to XII in government schools who score 80 per cent or above in the previous academic year will receive an annual scholarship of Rs 2,500.
“These decisions reflect our government’s commitment to sustainability, public health, and academic excellence,” CM Gupta said following the Cabinet meeting at the Delhi Secretariat
