India installed 2.7 GW of rooftop solar capacity in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026 compared to 2.2 GW in Q4 2025 and 1.2 GW in Q1 2025, according to Mercom India Research’s newly released Q1 2026 India Rooftop Solar Market Report.
Installations during the quarter were driven largely by the PM Surya Ghar program, supported by subsidy-backed systems, simplified approval processes, and increasing state-level implementation support.
The residential segment accounted for 82% of total rooftop solar installations during Q1 2026. The industrial, commercial, and government segments contributed around 11%, 7%, and 0.4% of the quarterly additions, respectively.
The quarterly installations comprised 81% under the capital expenditure (CAPEX) model and around 19% under the operational expenditure or renewable energy service company (OPEX/RESCO) model.
“The rooftop solar market maintained strong momentum in Q1 2026, with installations increasing 25% quarter-over-quarter and 125% year-over-year, driven primarily by robust residential demand under the PM Surya Ghar program,” said Raj Prabhu, CEO of Mercom Capital Group. “While consumer interest in rooftop solar remains strong, the next phase of growth will depend more on implementation and execution. Faster approvals, financing access, installation quality, DISCOM coordination, and grid readiness will increasingly determine how quickly the residential segment can scale. As rooftop solar penetration rises, improving on-ground execution and consumer experience will become critical to sustain long-term growth.”
Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat led rooftop solar capacity installations during the quarter, accounting for 17%, 16%, and 15% of installations, respectively.
India’s cumulative rooftop solar installations reached 23.5 GW at the end of March 2026. Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh continued to lead cumulative installed rooftop solar capacity, accounting for 24%, 16%, and 9% of installations, respectively.
Mercom said the average cost of rooftop solar systems remained relatively stable across most module technologies during Q1 2026, while systems using Chinese modules recorded a noticeable increase in pricing.
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