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The Uttar Pradesh government aims to install solar panels on every rooftop in the state under the PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme. To achieve this ambitious goal, the government plans to train 30,000 youths as skilled 'Surya Mitras.' This initiative follows the launch of the Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year, which targets the installation of solar panels on one crore rooftops across the country. Under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's leadership, the UP government has already installed over 2.5 million solar panels in the state.
A senior official from the Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) stated that skilled labor is crucial for achieving the state’s goal of universal solar panel installation. To address this need, the state plans to train youths in solar panel installation. UPNEDA has set a target to train 30,000 Surya Mitras through district centers and Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). So far, more than 3,000 youths in Uttar Pradesh have received training for solar projects.
The Surya Mitra program includes a comprehensive 600 hours of training over three months. The training covers classroom instruction, practical laboratory work, demonstrations of solar photovoltaic technology systems, soft skills development, on-the-job training, and entrepreneurship skills.
UPNEDA reports that over 1.8 million homes in Uttar Pradesh have registered for solar panel installation, with applications also submitted for around 200,000 additional homes. To enhance solar energy adoption, the government has implemented net billing/net metering systems. Additionally, UPNEDA has partnered with the Tata Group to install solar panels on 1 million rooftops in Uttar Pradesh. This training initiative supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goal of equipping every home in the state with solar panels.