More families in Bihar and Jharkhand are putting solar panels on their roofs under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. Most conversations focus on panels and the subsidy. This post is about the less exciting part that keeps a system safe for 20-plus years: the protection between the panels, the inverter and your home's wiring.
Where Bihar and Jharkhand stand (official figures)
In a Lok Sabha answer, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) gave installation figures under the scheme as on 4 August 2026:
- Bihar: 25,157 rooftop solar systems installed, benefiting 25,790 households, with Rs 165.36 crore released as central financial assistance. Patna district alone accounted for 9,899 systems.
- Jharkhand: 3,371 systems installed, benefiting 3,592 households, with Rs 21.97 crore released.
Both states are still early compared with the leading states, so there is plenty of room to grow, and plenty of first-time installations where getting the basics right matters.
The subsidy, briefly
As per the scheme's official subsidy structure, residential households get Rs 30,000 per kW for the first 2 kW and Rs 18,000 for the additional capacity up to 3 kW. The total is capped at Rs 78,000 for systems of 3 kW and above. Applications go through the national portal, pmsuryaghar.gov.in.
The protection checklist
A grid-connected rooftop system has a DC side (panels to inverter) and an AC side (inverter to your DB and the meter). Each side needs its own protection. Discuss these with your installer:
- DC isolator: lets the panels be safely disconnected from the inverter for maintenance.
- DC fuses or a DC-rated breaker, where the design calls for them. DC arcs behave differently from AC, so the devices must be DC-rated.
- Surge protection devices (SPDs) on the DC and AC sides. Rooftops are exposed to lightning, which is common in our region during the monsoon.
- An AC MCB and isolator between the inverter and the DB, correctly rated for the inverter's output.
- An RCCB as advised by your installer for the AC side, to protect against earth leakage.
- Proper earthing for the panel structure, the inverter and the SPDs, plus a lightning arrester where needed.
- Correct cables: UV-resistant solar DC cable on the roof, sized for the current, with neat routing and sealed glands.
Practical tips
- Use the empanelled vendors and the DISCOM inspection process described on the national portal.
- Keep the inverter in a ventilated, shaded spot, away from water.
- After a storm, look for loose cables, cracked panels or tripped devices before resetting anything.
ATRICL in Ranchi supplies switchgear, MCBs, RCCBs, distribution boards and cables for rooftop and commercial projects across Jharkhand and Bihar. Send us your installer's single-line diagram or BOM and we will help with the protection side.
This article is general information, not a substitute for a site inspection. Electrical work should always be done by a qualified, licensed electrician. ATRICL is GeM-registered.