The Rooftop Solar Training Academy has been operationalised at Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gandhinagar. It is a skilling intervention linked to PM Surya Ghar Yojana, which was launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister in January 2024.
The academy has been established and operationalised in collaboration with the Department of Climate Change, Environment and Water (DCEEW), India’s Sector Skills Council for Green Jobs (SSCGJ), and ReNEW. Its stated objective is to train 2000 women and youth as solar technicians, installers and helpers.
The development matters because rooftop solar is not only an energy policy instrument but also a labour market issue. Household-level solar expansion needs trained manpower for installation, wiring, safety, maintenance and consumer support.
For UPSC, the issue sits at the intersection of renewable energy, skill development, green jobs, and women’s participation in the workforce. It also shows how scheme implementation increasingly depends on partnerships between government, skills institutions and the private or civil society ecosystem.
Background and earlier position
India has been expanding solar capacity through both utility-scale and distributed solar models. Rooftop solar is particularly relevant for households because it lowers electricity bills, decentralises generation and supports energy access in urban and semi-urban areas.