Updated on 1 November 2026. Subsidies change often, so confirm the current terms with the agency named for your state before you apply.
Search for "EV charging station subsidy" and you'll find a lot of confident numbers: 80% subsidy, 25% in this state, ₹6,000 per charger in that one. Many of those pages are out of date, and some were never quite right. Schemes have ended, new state policies have replaced old ones, and the biggest central scheme doesn't work the way most people think.
So here's an honest, up-to-date version: what the central government actually offers, what each major state offers right now, what has expired, and how to check what you can claim.
Quick summary
- PM E-DRIVE, the central scheme, has ₹2,000 crore for public charging. But government bodies, PSUs and the public sector oil companies apply for it, not private owners. A private site like a mall, market or highway plot gets at most 80% of the supply-side cost, and only through a government agency.
- States are where private owners can actually claim money. Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab and Bihar have live support of some kind.
- Some well-known subsidies have ended. Gujarat's expired in June 2025, Delhi's ₹6,000 home charger grant isn't in its 2026 policy, and West Bengal's policy has lapsed.
- Cheaper power is a subsidy too. The Ministry of Power's guidelines ask for an EV tariff no higher than the average cost of supply, and cheaper still between 9 am and 4 pm, until March 2028.
- Home chargers get almost no direct subsidy anywhere now.
PM E-DRIVE: what it really covers
PM E-DRIVE replaced FAME II in October 2024 and sets aside ₹2,000 crore for public charging. This is how it works, according to the scheme's own operational guidelines.
Who applies: central ministries, state and UT governments, public sector companies, and bodies like the public sector oil companies, NHAI and the Airports Authority. They name nodal agencies, collect proposals and either run the stations themselves or pick a charging operator through a tender. A private owner can't apply directly.
How much, by location:
| Where the station is | Support |
|---|---|
| Government premises, with the chargers open to the public free of restrictions | 100% of the supply-side cost and 100% of the chargers |
| Government-run public places: railway and metro stations, airports, bus stations, municipal parking, public sector fuel pumps, toll plazas and highway amenities | 80% of the supply-side cost and 70% of the chargers |
| Everywhere else, like streets, malls, markets and highways | 80% of the supply-side cost only |
| Battery swapping or charging stations, any location | 80% of the supply-side cost only |
The "supply-side cost" means the transformer, cables, breakers and protection, mounting structures, fencing and civil work. The subsidy is worked out on the lower of the actual cost or the Bureau of Energy Efficiency's benchmark cost.
So if you own a private plot, PM E-DRIVE isn't something you can claim yourself. The realistic way in is to partner with a government agency or win one of their tenders. Be wary of anyone who offers to "arrange" a PM E-DRIVE subsidy for your private site for a fee.
State subsidies for charging stations, state by state
This is where private owners can actually get money. As of 1 November 2026, this is where things stand:
| State | What charging stations get | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | 25% of station cost, up to ₹3 lakh per station, for the first 5,000 public stations (land, power connection, transformer and civil work not counted). Claim through NREDCAP. | In force, policy to December 2029 |
| Bihar | Per charger. For CCS fast chargers: 50% of cost plus ₹1 lakh, up to ₹10 lakh, for the first 60. | Charger incentives end around early December 2026 |
| Delhi | No capital subsidy for public, society or home chargers under the 2026 policy. Delhi Transco runs a single window for operators. | 2026 policy in force to March 2030 |
| Gujarat | Nothing at the moment. The 25% subsidy under the 2021 policy has ended. | Expired 30 June 2025; new policy not yet notified |
| Haryana | 20% of capital cost, up to ₹5 lakh, for the first 200 privately owned public stations investing over ₹25 lakh. Gurugram and Faridabad are excluded. Apply within 90 days of starting. | In force to about July 2027 |
| Karnataka | Capital subsidy for fast-charging stations; reported at 25%, up to ₹10 lakh, for 500 stations. | Clean Mobility Policy 2025-30 |
| Kerala | No state capital subsidy. EV charging is 30% cheaper from 9 am to 4 pm under the regulator's tariff. | No charger scheme |
| Madhya Pradesh | 30% of charger cost: up to ₹1.5 lakh for small, ₹3 lakh for medium and ₹10 lakh for large stations above 112 kW. Apply on the EV Tarang portal. | MP EV Policy 2025, in force |
| Maharashtra | Up to 15% of a DC fast-charging station's cost, capped at ₹5 lakh per charger for 50 to 250 kW and ₹10 lakh above 250 kW. | EV Policy 2025, to March 2030 |
| Punjab | ₹10,000 per DC charging point for the first 2,000, and ₹3,000 per small AC point for the first 8,000, through PSPCL. | Policy extended to February 2027 |
| Rajasthan | The cost of the grid connection repaid in full, up to ₹5 lakh, for the first 100 public fast-charging or swapping stations. | In force to about August 2027 |
| Tamil Nadu | 25% of equipment cost, up to ₹10 lakh, for the first 200 public fast-charging stations, plus a concession on demand charges. | EV Policy 2023, to about February 2028 |
| Telangana | No state capital subsidy, despite what some websites say. A special EV tariff applies. | Policy in force, no charger subsidy |
| Uttar Pradesh | 20% of capital cost, up to ₹10 lakh per station, for the first 2,000 stations investing at least ₹25 lakh. Claim through Invest UP. | In force to about October 2027 |
| West Bengal | No capital subsidy. The 2021 policy has lapsed. | Lapsed around June 2026 |
Most of these are limited to the first few hundred or thousand stations, so always ask the agency how many slots are left. For more detail on three of the biggest states, read our guides for Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Cheaper electricity for charging
For a charging station, a lower power bill is often worth more than a one-time subsidy, because it helps every single month. The Ministry of Power's 2024 guidelines ask that charging stations on their own connection get a single-part tariff no higher than the DISCOM's average cost of supply, and 0.7 times that between 9 am and 4 pm (1.3 times at other hours), until 31 March 2028. A separate meter for the charging station is mandatory.
States set the actual rates, and they vary a lot. A few examples from current tariff orders:
- Karnataka: ₹4.50 a unit, plus a fixed charge.
- Andhra Pradesh: ₹6.70 a unit, with no demand charge.
- Tamil Nadu: ₹6.50 a unit from 9 am to 4 pm, up to ₹9.75 in the morning and evening peaks, plus fixed charges.
- Uttar Pradesh: ₹7.70 a unit on LT, with 20% off from 9 am to 4 pm.
- Maharashtra (MSEDCL): about ₹9.25 to ₹9.50 a unit for 2026-27, with no fixed or demand charge.
Some states also cut fixed or demand charges for a few years. Tamil Nadu, for example, gives a concession on demand charges for new stations.
What about home and housing society chargers?
There's very little direct help for home chargers now. PM E-DRIVE doesn't cover them, and Delhi's old grant of ₹6,000 per charging point isn't part of its 2026 policy. Punjab still lists ₹3,000 per small AC charging point for semi-public and private chargers, and Bihar has support for chargers at housing societies until around December 2026.
Housing societies do have one useful option: under PM Surya Ghar, they get ₹18,000 per kW for solar that powers common facilities, and EV charging counts. Read our solar EV charging guide and our page on charging for housing societies.
Other support worth knowing
- Bank loans: SBI EV Mitra and Indian Bank's IND Green Charge are made for charging stations. Read our loans guide.
- Government land: under the Ministry of Power's guidelines, public land can be offered to charging stations on a revenue share of ₹1 per unit sold, usually through a tender.
- No licence needed: setting up a charging station is a de-licensed activity, which saves time and cost on its own.
How to check what you can claim
- Find your state's current EV policy and check it's still in force.
- Read exactly what it covers: equipment only, the whole station, or the grid connection.
- Check the conditions: minimum investment, charger power, public access, and the "first N stations" limit.
- Ask the nodal agency how many slots are left and how to apply, before you build.
- Keep every invoice and the commissioning papers. Most states pay after the station is running.
What we'd do
Plan the station so it works without a subsidy, then treat any subsidy as a bonus that shortens the payback. Focus on what helps every month: a good site, the right charger and a low power bill. For a rough cost and earnings estimate, use our calculator, and for a full plan, book a site survey. If you're just starting, read how to start an EV charging station business.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a government subsidy for EV charging stations in India?
Yes, but mostly at state level for private owners. The central PM E-DRIVE scheme supports public charging through government ministries, states, PSUs and public sector oil companies, not private owners directly. Several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, have their own subsidies.
Can a private owner get PM E-DRIVE subsidy for a charging station?
Not directly. Government bodies apply and either run the stations or appoint a charging operator through a tender. For private sites like malls and highways, the scheme covers up to 80% of the supply-side cost only, through that government route.
Which states give a subsidy for EV charging stations?
As of 1 November 2026, live support exists in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. Gujarat's subsidy expired in June 2025, and Delhi, Telangana and Kerala have no state capital subsidy for chargers.
Is there a subsidy for home EV chargers?
Very little now. PM E-DRIVE does not cover home chargers and Delhi's old ₹6,000 grant is not in its 2026 policy. Punjab still lists ₹3,000 per small AC charging point, and housing societies can use the PM Surya Ghar solar subsidy for common facilities, including EV charging.
What is the EV charging tariff under the Ministry of Power guidelines?
A single-part tariff no higher than the DISCOM's average cost of supply, at 0.7 times that between 9 am and 4 pm and 1.3 times at other hours, until 31 March 2028. States set the actual rates.
How do I apply for an EV charging station subsidy?
Check that your state's EV policy is in force, read what it covers and its conditions, ask the nodal agency how many slots are left, and keep all invoices and commissioning papers, since most states pay after the station starts running.
