India’s solar revolution is entering a new phase. Domestic manufacturing, anchored in the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, is no longer just about adding gigawatts of capacity it is about building a resilient ecosystem that also powers both India’s homes and farms through solar rooftop systems and solar water pumps. This transition is not only an industrial opportunity but a nation building project that touches every village, town and city, notes Ramakrishna Sataluri.
India has set a progressively ambitious target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel based power capacity by 2030, with solar power expected to contribute a major share.
To reach this goal sustainably, the country cannot depend on just imported modules, cells and components; it must develop a strong domestic manufacturing base that secures supply chains, creates jobs and builds technological capability.
Progress has been excellent. India’s solar PV module manufacturing capacity has crossed around 100 GW under the ALMM framework, a milestone that marks a visible shift towards self-reliance.
Schemes such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) for high efficiency PV modules, customs duties on imports and quality linked approvals are aligning India’s climate ambitions with industrial strategy
Beyond megaprojects: The rise of decentralised solar
For many years, the solar story was told mainly through utility-scale parks spread across deserts and open land. Today, that story is incomplete unless it includes two powerful decentralised pillars: solar water pumps in the fields and solar rooftops on homes and businesses. These segments bring solar closer to people’s daily lives, converting domestic manufacturing capacity into real-world energy security and economic gains.
Decentralised solar also creates far deeper local value addition. Installation, civil work, wiring, servicing and maintenance are all localised activities, meaning every kilowatt installed supports local jobs and entrepreneurship something central to the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision
Solar water pumps: Atmanirbhar Kisan in action
The PM-KUSUM scheme is one of the world’s largest programmes to solarise agriculture, targeting several lakh standalone and grid connected solar water pumps to replace diesel and reduce farm energy costs. By November 30, 2025, more than 9 lakhs solar pumps have been installed in the country under PM-KUSUM scheme against the target of 13.08 lakh solar pumps under component-B of the scheme
Crucially, PM-KUSUM has mandatory requirement to use domestically produced solar cells and modules in pump installations, directly creating demand for Indian manufacturing. Each solar pump system brings together Indian made modules, pumps, motors, controllers and structures, generating manufacturing jobs while giving farmers greater control over irrigation and input costs.
For companies like Shakti Pumps, which have led the solar pumping movement for years, this is where domestic manufacturing meets rural transformation. By designing pumps and electronics for Indian water tables, soil conditions and grid realities, and by building deep service networks in rural markets, Shakti converts “Make in India” into tangible outcomes: higher yields, lower diesel dependence and more resilient livelihoods
Solar rooftop: Har Ghar Solar, Har Ghar Atmanirbhar
On the urban and semi urban side, the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana has created an unprecedented push for residential rooftop solar. With an outlay exceeding ₹75,000 crore and a target to reach 1 crore households by 2027, the scheme offers substantial subsidies and up to 300 units of free electricity per month for eligible homes.
This surge in rooftop demand directly strengthens domestic manufacturing. Every system installed under PM Surya Ghar or state rooftop policies requires modules, inverters, structures, cabling and protection devices segments where Indian industry is rapidly expanding capacity and sophistication. Rooftop solar also cuts distribution losses, eases peak demand and empowers households and MSMEs to hedge against rising tariffs, embodying the true spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat at the consumer level
For Shakti Energy Solutions, rooftop solar is the urban counterpart to solar pumping in the fields. By developing rooftop portfolios and integrated offerings designed for Indian roofs, climates and consumption patterns, the company contributes to a unified vision: “energy independence made in India, for India.”
Domestic manufacturing as the bridge between farms and rooftops
Both PM-KUSUM and PM Surya Ghar are deliberately structured to pull demand through the domestic supply chain. The mandatory domestic content norms for solar pumps and the scale of rooftop subsidies together create large, predictable markets for Indian manufacturers across modules, balance-of-system components and system integration
This is where Atmanirbhar Bharat becomes more than a slogan. When a solar pump in a remote field and a rooftop plant in a crowded city are both powered by Indian-made equipment, designed by Indian engineers and serviced by Indian technicians, the country builds a virtuous cycle: higher local value-add, more jobs, better technology and stronger resilience against global disruptions
From Shakti’s perspective, the strongest supply chain is one that closes the loop from factory to field and from factory to rooftop. As manufacturing deepens into motors, electronics, structures and smart controls, and as digital tools enable monitoring and service, domestic capability grows in both width and depth, moving India towards true solar self-reliance.
What India must do next
To fully harness the power of domestic manufacturing across solar pumps and rooftops, several priorities stand out. India must continue expanding from module assembly to an integrated value chain that includes ingots, wafers, cells, modules and advanced components, supported by strong R&D and skill-building ecosystems. Policy stability and long-term visibility in schemes like PM-KUSUM and PM Surya Ghar are vital so that manufacturers and developers can plan capacity and investments with confidence.
Equally important is stitching the skill gaps and strengthening education for consumers. Training programmes for installers, electricians, pump technicians and service partners must be scaled up through ITIs, polytechnics and industry led academies so that every system whether a solar pump or a rooftop is installed safely, efficiently and maintained over its full life. Farmers, homeowners and MSMEs also need clear, accessible information on how solar works, what quality standards to look for, how to read performance data and how to access schemes like PM-KUSUM and PM Surya Ghar.
Alongside this, grid and distribution infrastructure must keep pace with accelerating decentralised solar, enabling seamless integration of millions of small systems into a flexible, resilient power system. Finally, India must back strong domestic brands and solution providers to take this model to other emerging markets, positioning the country as a global leader in affordable, reliable and locally appropriate solar solutions.
Domestic manufacturing, solar water pumps and solar rooftops are, therefore, not three separate stories they are one integrated narrative of Atmanirbhar Bharat. From the farmer irrigating his field with a locally made solar pump to the family powering its home from a rooftop assembled in an Indian factory, the message is clear: India’s solar future will be brightest when it is built, installed and serviced in Bharat, for Bharat. This is the new India, this is new Bharat.
About the author: Ramakrishna Sataluri is Chief Executive Officer, Shakti Energy Solutions.