Mandya Villages Lead the Way in India’s Model Solar Village Contest under PM Surya Ghar Scheme – EQ
In Short : Ten villages in Mandya district, Karnataka, have been chosen under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana for the *Model Solar Village contest*. The initiative promotes rooftop solar adoption, reducing power costs while encouraging sustainable energy in rural areas. It aims to make villages self-reliant in electricity and model champions of India’s clean energy transition.
In Detail : Ten villages in Mandya district of Karnataka have been selected to participate in the Model Solar Village contest under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. The initiative is designed to promote rooftop solar adoption across rural communities, reducing dependence on conventional electricity sources and cutting household power expenses. This move reflects India’s growing emphasis on clean energy in villages.
The selected villages will now work to showcase how solar power can transform rural life by meeting household energy needs efficiently. The contest encourages communities to take proactive steps toward sustainability, ensuring affordable and reliable electricity access. This program will also demonstrate how grassroots adoption of solar can accelerate India’s renewable energy targets.
By reducing grid dependency, the scheme aims to provide financial relief to rural households, particularly farmers and small-scale workers. Solar adoption not only brings down electricity costs but also ensures uninterrupted supply for essential needs such as irrigation, lighting, and community services. The government hopes this will boost both productivity and quality of life in rural areas.
The initiative also fosters local participation, with villagers encouraged to actively engage in installing and maintaining rooftop solar systems. This participatory approach will help build awareness about renewable energy while creating new opportunities for skill development. Local solar adoption can also generate small-scale employment, strengthening the rural economy.
The Model Solar Village contest is being positioned as a platform to encourage innovation at the community level. Villages will be judged based on how effectively they adopt solar energy and integrate it into everyday life. Performance metrics include energy savings, reduction in conventional power usage, and community engagement in sustainability practices.
This program will also bring visibility to how solar can empower women, farmers, and youth in rural settings. The reduction in electricity costs can enable families to save more, while reliable supply can support micro-enterprises, educational institutions, and healthcare services. Such benefits highlight the transformative role of solar energy beyond just power generation.
The Mandya villages, by setting an example, could inspire replication across other districts and states. The government envisions this initiative as a pilot to scale up renewable energy adoption in rural India. Successful villages could become learning hubs for neighboring communities, spreading awareness and practical knowledge of solar technology.
By bringing solar to the grassroots, the contest complements India’s broader clean energy mission. The country is targeting rapid renewable energy expansion to meet its sustainability commitments under global climate agreements. Rural participation is crucial to ensure that renewable growth benefits not just cities but also villages, where energy access challenges are greater.
Through the PM Surya Ghar program and contests like this, the government is sending a clear message that clean energy is not just about large-scale projects but about everyday lives. Mandya’s selected villages now carry the responsibility of proving how solar can illuminate rural India, empowering communities while steering the nation toward a greener future.
