A post is being circulated on social media with a claim that free solar panels are being distributed by the Centre under a new scheme initiated by PM Narendra Modi.
We found multiple Facebook posts with links to different websites.

The link to Facebook posts can be seen here, here, here and here.

FACT CHECK

NewsMobile fact-checked the post and found the claim to be false.
We checked each link individually and found that one of the link pages was removed.

However, another link led us to a website which contained more information on the scheme. The site also listed out the requirements to avail the offer. The website links can be seen here and here.

We then checked the official website of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) for the listed Schemes and did not find anything by the name of ‘Pradhan Mantri Free Solar Panel Yojana’.
However, we found a scheme called Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM). The PM-KUSUM scheme was launched by the MNRE Ministry to support the installation of off-grid solar pumps in rural areas and reduce dependence on the grid, in grid-connected areas.

According to an article by Paisa Bazaar, “Under PM Kusum Yojana, farmers, group of farmers, panchayat, co-operative societies can apply to plant a solar pump. The total cost involved in this scheme is divided into three categories in which the Government will help farmers. Government will provide a subsidy of 60% to farmers and 30% of the cost will be given by Government in form of loans. Farmers will only have to give 10% of the total cost of the project. The electricity generated from the solar panel can be sold by the farmers. The money gained after selling electricity can further be used for starting a new business.”

Hence, from the above information, it is clear that it is not a free scheme, but a subsidised one.
More information on PM- KUSUM can be obtained from the official website of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
Moreover, the Press Information Bureau also confirmed that the post in circulation is fake.

दावा : #WhatsApp पर वायरल हो रहे एक मैसेज में दावा किया जा रहा है कि सरकार द्वारा प्रधानमंत्री फ्री सोलर पैनल योजना चलाई जा रही है।#PibFactCheck : यह दावा फर्ज़ी है। केंद्र सरकार द्वारा ऐसी किसी योजना की घोषणा नहीं की गई है। pic.twitter.com/FrX3D6idhP

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) September 18, 2020

Hence, based on the above information, it is clear that the post in circulation is false and there isn’t any such free scheme that the government has launched.

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