India installed 2.7 GW of rooftop solar capacity during the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, marking a 25% increase from 2.2 GW in Q4 2025 and a 125% rise compared to 1.2 GW in Q1 2025, according to Mercom India Research.
The growth was primarily driven by the PM Surya Ghar program, which has accelerated residential solar adoption through subsidies, simplified approval procedures, and stronger state-level implementation support.
The residential sector accounted for 82% of total rooftop solar installations during the quarter, while the industrial, commercial, and government sectors contributed 11%, 7%, and 0.4%, respectively.
Most installations (81%) were deployed under the CAPEX model, while 19% were implemented through the OPEX/RESCO model.
Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat led new rooftop solar installations, accounting for 17%, 16%, and 15% of quarterly additions, respectively.
By the end of March 2026, India’s cumulative rooftop solar capacity had reached 23.5 GW. Gujarat remained the leading state with 24% of total installed rooftop solar capacity, followed by Maharashtra (16%) and Uttar Pradesh (9%).
Mercom noted that rooftop solar system costs remained largely stable during the quarter, although systems using Chinese modules experienced a noticeable increase in pricing.
