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					</table><p>The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (<a href="https://mnre.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MNRE</a>) has received the President of India’s approval to implement a new solar power program with an outlay of ₹5.15 billion (~$61.9 million) for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) habitations and villages under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (<a href="https://www.india.gov.in/spotlight/pradhan-mantri-janjati-adivasi-nyaya-maha-abhiyan-pm-janman" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PM JANMAN</a>).</p>
<p>The program aims to electrify 100,000 PVTG households in areas where electricity supply through the grid is not deemed techno-economically feasible with 0.3 kW off-grid solar power systems. The government has earmarked ₹5 billion (~$60 million) towards this initiative. The financial assistance for each household will be either ₹50,000 (~$601) or the actual cost of the system.</p>
<p>The program also includes provisions for solar lighting in 1,500 multi-purpose centers in PVTG areas where electricity through the grid is unavailable. The government will provide ₹100,000 (~$1,202) per multi-purpose center and has budgeted ₹150 million (~$1.8 million) towards this initiative.</p>
<p>The program will be effective from financial years (FY) 2023-24 to 2025-26.</p>
<p>The PVTG areas identified by the <a href="https://tribal.gov.in/Home.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ministry of Tribal Affairs</a> are located in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, and Andaman and Nicobar.</p>
<p>The funds for the program will be sourced from MNRE’s Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes. It will be disbursed over three years— ₹200 million (~$2.4 million) in 2023-24, ₹2.55 billion (~$30.6 million) in 2024-25, and ₹2.4 billion (~$28.9 million) in 2025-26.</p>
<p>A separate budget line, PM JANMAN, has been opened for this purpose.</p>
<p>The last time MNRE <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/mnre-brings-down-benchmark-costs-off-grid-solar-2021-22/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">published</a> benchmark costs for decentralized and off-grid solar systems was for FY 2021-22. The amended benchmark costs included the total cost of the system and its installations, commissioning, transportation, insurance, warranty, monitoring, and maintenance for five years.</p>
<p>MNRE also <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/mnre-decentralized-renewable-livelihood-applications/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> the framework to promote and develop decentralized renewable energy-based livelihood applications.</p>


Government Approves ₹5.15 Billion Solar Program for Tribal Areas

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