Patna, August 10: Bihar Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit has directed banks to approve pending loan applications under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana within 10 days and avoid rejecting eligible applications without adequate reason.
The directions were issued during a detailed review of the scheme’s ULA model on Monday. The meeting examined district-wise progress, bank financing, rooftop solar installations and the progress against prescribed targets.
Banks Asked To Reduce Loan Approval Time
The Chief Secretary directed senior bank officials to ensure that all pending eligible loan applications are processed within 10 days.
According to the state government, banks have also been asked to review the reasons for rejected applications and take corrective measures where deficiencies can be resolved.
The target is to reduce the average loan approval period from 18 days to 10 days.
No Unnecessary Income Documents To Be Sought
The meeting clarified that banks should not seek additional income-related documents beyond those already submitted online by eligible beneficiaries as part of the application process.
Applications should not be rejected solely because of discrepancies between property ownership details and electricity bill ownership details, according to the directions issued at the meeting.
Banks have also been asked to conduct branch-level reviews across all districts, with particular attention to three districts where loan rejection rates and processing times are reportedly higher.
Loan Rejection Rate Targeted At 25%
Officials from the Department of Financial Services stressed the need to simplify and streamline the banking process.
The government has set a target of reducing the loan rejection rate from 36% to 25%, while also bringing down the time taken to approve eligible applications.
The State Level Bankers’ Committee and District Level Bankers’ Committees have been directed to coordinate more closely with district administrations.
Directions are also expected to be issued to address irregularities in civil scores for loans of up to Rs 2 lakh, according to the government.
2.5 Lakh Solar Plants Targeted By October-End
The review also focused on the installation of rooftop solar systems under the ULA model.
Energy Secretary and BSPHCL Chairman-cum-Managing Director Ajay Yadav briefed the meeting on the progress of installations across districts and measures being taken to meet the prescribed targets.
The Chief Secretary directed agencies to accelerate installation work, with a specific target of completing 2.5 lakh solar installations by the end of October.
All ULA Targets To Be Completed By November
The government has set November 2026 as the deadline for completing all prescribed targets under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana’s ULA model.
District magistrates and other officials have been instructed to conduct regular reviews and ensure that pending work is completed without delay.
The Chief Secretary also directed vendors and implementing agencies to speed up their work. Agencies failing to make adequate progress against their targets could face strict action, including debarment, according to the government.
Districts To Step Up Awareness Campaigns
Information, education and communication activities related to the scheme will be monitored by district magistrates.
They have been asked to regularly review awareness and outreach activities in their respective districts so that eligible beneficiaries are informed about the scheme and its application process.
All district magistrates participated in Monday’s review meeting through video conferencing, alongside senior officials from banks, energy departments and agencies involved in the ULA model.
Focus On Faster Implementation
The state government has called for closer coordination between departments, district administrations, banks and implementing agencies to accelerate the scheme’s implementation.
The immediate priorities are reducing loan processing time and rejection rates, completing 2.5 lakh rooftop solar installations by October-end and meeting all ULA model targets by November 2026.
