State PCS - Uttar Pradesh (UP PCS)

• 22 Apr 2025

PM Surya Ghar Yojana

Why in News? 

The Uttar Pradesh government will double the installation rate of solar rooftop plants under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Yojana. 

Key Points 

• Current Status: 
  •  Over one lakh plants have already been installed across the state, with an installation rate of approximately 11,000 per month and 500 per day. 
• Target of the Government: 
  • The government aims to install 2.65 lakh plants in 2025-26, raising the monthly installation rate to 22,000.  
    • The overall target is to install 8 lakh solar rooftop plants by March 2027.  
  • To expedite the process, over 2,500 vendors have been empaneled, and approximately 1,800 vendors have been trained. 
• Multi-Level Planning: 
  • The target has been divided at the district, discom, municipal corporation and municipality level. 
  • The scheme has been linked to the Chief Minister's dashboard, enabling real-time monitoring and tracking of its progress. 
  • Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) is committed to ensuring that the scheme reaches every household. 
  •  Vendors are being enlisted by reaching out to the applicants.  
    • Additionally, their economic capacity is being strengthened through loans and credit guarantee schemes provided by banks. 
• Training & Support: 
  • The training work is being done in a phased manner with the cooperation of the National Institute of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Ministry of Skill Development, Government of India and UPNEDA. 

PM Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana 

• About:  
  • This scheme was launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in February 2024. 
  • This is a central scheme to promote the adoption of solar rooftop systems by providing adequate financial subsidy and ensuring ease of installation. 
  • It aims to provide free electric power to one crore households in India who wish to install power units with rooftop solar panels.  
    • The households will be able to get 300 units of electricity free every month. 
• Implementing Agencies: The scheme will be implemented at two levels: 
  • National Level: Managed by National Programme Implementation Agency (NPIA). 
  • State Level: Managed by State Implementation Agencies (SIAs), which are the distribution utilities (DISCOMs) or electricity/energy departments of the respective states or UTs. 
• Subsidy Structure: The scheme provides subsidies to reduce the cost of solar rooftop system installation. The subsidy is limited to a maximum capacity of 3 kW. 
  • 60% subsidy for solar systems up to 2 kW capacity. 
  • 40% subsidy for solar systems between 2kW to 3kW capacity. 

MoU Signed Between NSE and UP Government

Why in News?

Recently, an important Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Uttar Pradesh Government and the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

Key Points

• About the MoU: 
  • Its objective is to facilitate capital-raising opportunities for the state's 96 lakh Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
    • These MSMEs can now raise funds by launching Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) through the NSE Emerge platform.
  • NSE Emerge is a dedicated platform designed to connect MSMEs with the capital market, offering opportunities for public funding, increased brand visibility, and access to a broader investor base.
    • Under the agreement, NSE will assist the Uttar Pradesh Government in organizing seminars, road shows, workshops, knowledge sessions and MSME camps to enhance IPO awareness among MSMEs.
  • Through this initiative, MSME units will get access to public capital as well as the confidence of investors.
  • As of April, 2025, 612 companies have been listed on the NSE Emerge platform, raising capital of more than Rs 17, 003 crore and their total market capitalization is Rs 1, 76, 565 crore.
• Significance:
  • This initiative will boost industrial investment, employment generation and innovation in Uttar Pradesh.
  • MSME will be helped to compete at national and global level.
    • As part of the MSME Policy 2022, financial assistance of up to Rs 5 lakh is being offered to support MSMEs in getting listed on the stock exchange.

National Stock Exchange (NSE)

• National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE) is India's largest financial marketplace.
• The National Stock Exchange, incorporated in 1992, has evolved into a sophisticated, electronic marketplace, ranking fourth in the world by equity trading volume (as of 2021).
• It was the first exchange in India to provide modern, fully automated electronic trading.
  • NSE is the largest private wide-area network in India.
• Nifty 50 is the flagship index of the NSE.
  • The index tracks the behaviour of a portfolio of blue chip companies, the largest and most liquid Indian securities.