By Shafat Malik
Comments 0
31 Mar 2026

Solar adoption lags in J&K despite Centre’s push for renewables

‘Just 79 MW installed, rooftop scheme yet to scale’

Srinagar, Mar 30: Even as the Centre pushes an aggressive renewable energy transition, Jammu and Kashmir’s on-ground progress remains uneven, with limited solar adoption, unclear fund allocation patterns, and a heavy dependence on large hydro projects continuing to dominate the Union Territory’s energy mix. As per the official Data accessed by Rising Kashmir, J&K has installed a total renewable energy capacity of 3,629.41 MW as of February 2026, but this is overwhelmingly skewed towards large hydro power (3,360 MW), while solar power accounts for just 79.48 MW, a fraction of the total capacity. The figures raise questions over the pace of diversification, particularly as solar energy is expected to form the backbone of India’s non-fossil fuel expansion strategy. It said that the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has not made any state-wise allocation of funds, instead releasing financial assistance based on scheme guidelines. Over the past three years, Central Financial Assistance (CFA) released for key schemes in J&K shows an inconsistent trend. Under rooftop solar

and the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, Rs 1.20 crore was released in 2022-23, no funds were recorded in 2023-24, and a sharp increase to Rs 59.85 crore came in 2024-25. Similarly, PM-KUSUM saw Rs 15.69 crore in 2022-23, no allocation the following year, and Rs 12.90 crore in 2024-25. The gaps in yearly funding, particularly the absence of releases in 2023-24, indicate possible delays or bottlenecks in implementation. The government’s flagship PM Surya Ghar scheme, aimed at promoting rooftop solar installations, has reached 26,730 households across J&K as of March 18, 2026. However, district-level data suggest uneven penetration. Srinagar leads with 4,538 beneficiary households, followed by Jammu (3,881) and Kupwara (2,494). In contrast, several districts, particularly in remote and hilly regions, report significantly lower uptake including Poonch (317), Kishtwar (374), and Reasi (400). Even districts like Bandipora (799) and Ganderbal (714) remain below 1,000 beneficiaries, indicating that the scheme is yet to achieve scale across large parts of the Valley. The disparities point to structural challenges

such as awareness gaps, affordability concerns, and logistical constraints in difficult terrain. While the government has outlined a wide range of policy measures including incentives, regulatory frameworks, and infrastructure support to accelerate renewable energy adoption, the data suggest that these measures are yet to translate into proportionate outcomes in J&K. Despite higher rates of central financial assistance for hilly and border regions, including J&K, the low solar capacity and uneven beneficiary distribution indicate a disconnect between policy intent and implementation on the ground. The dominance of large hydro power in J&K’s renewable portfolio also underscores a structural imbalance. While hydro projects contribute significantly to overall capacity, they do little to decentralise energy access or reduce transmission challenges in remote areas. In contrast, decentralised solar solutions, particularly rooftop systems, remain limited in reach, despite being critical for last-mile electrification and energy resilience in geographically challenging regions. The data, taken together, suggest that while schemes exist and funds are being released intermittently, the pace of execution remains a concern.