Jaipur: Rajasthan, the country’s leader in solar power generation, is struggling to translate its dominance into rooftop installations under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. Despite commanding the largest installed solar capacity, the state ranks only fifth in rooftop adoption, trailing behind Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
The state government offers a subsidy of Rs 17,000 for a 150-kW rooftop plant, in addition to the Centre’s Rs 33,000 support, covering the Rs 50,000 installation cost. Yet, uptake remains sluggish.
Subsidy Trust Gap
Rajasthan Solar Association CEO Nitin Agarwal said subsidies must act as a “bait” to attract households. “Confidence is key. People are unsure if they will actually receive the state subsidy, and that hesitation is slowing adoption,” he noted.
Free Power Scheme Deters Investment
Another deterrent is the state’s free power scheme, which provides up to 100 units at no cost. With no deadline announced for phasing out the benefit, households lack incentives to invest in rooftop solar.
“Unless the government signals an end to free power, consumers will not feel compelled to switch,” Agarwal added.
Administrative Inertia
Vendors point to administrative inertia as another bottleneck. Rajasthan’s application-to-installation ratio lags behind Kerala, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. “Officials must be held accountable for delays. States like Kerala, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh have shown how fast-tracking approvals and raising public awareness can build momentum,” said a vendor.
He stressed that both Uttar Pradesh and Kerala began rooftop projects later than Rajasthan but surged ahead by streamlining processes.
Call for Urgent Reforms
Agarwal said the slow adoption underscores the need for policy clarity, subsidy assurance and administrative efficiency. “Without urgent reforms, Rajasthan risks losing its edge and falling behind in PM Surya Ghar projects.”
