Rajasthan’s Struggles With PM Surya Ghar Scheme

Rajasthan's Struggles with the PM Surya Ghar Scheme

Despite being known for its high solar irradiation and hosting India’s largest solar park, Rajasthan seems to be struggling with the implementation of the PM Surya Ghar scheme. The slow pace of installations since the scheme’s launch has affected the state’s reputation as a leader in renewable energy.

This underperformance is in stark contrast to neighboring states like Gujarat, where the residential rooftop segment has seen significant expansion. Gujarat boasts a total residential rooftop solar capacity of around 4.3 GW, while Maharashtra stands at 2.5 GW. Meanwhile, Rajasthan lags behind with a capacity of only 1.2 GW. Industry experts and consumers attribute this lag to a lack of support from discoms, minimal state incentives, and limited assistance in the form of subsidies and free grid electricity.

Other states have been proactive in providing additional subsidies to boost the adoption of rooftop solar under the PM Surya Ghar scheme. For instance, Uttar Pradesh offers subsidies of up to ₹30,000 for a 2 kW system. Similarly, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Odisha have also introduced state subsidies to make rooftop solar more accessible, especially for lower and middle-income households, thereby reducing their dependency on grid power.

However, the absence of state subsidies is not the only hurdle in Rajasthan. Unlike Gujarat, where discom approvals and procedures have been streamlined, Rajasthan faces significant procedural delays in processing solar applications. Additionally, the provision of free electricity for up to 100 units has disincentivized many potential consumers from switching to solar.

Records indicate that, unlike several other states that have witnessed a surge in rooftop solar connections under the PM Surya Ghar scheme, Rajasthan’s conversion rate from applications to actual connections remains below the national average. This points to systemic inefficiencies and a lack of initiative on the part of state entities.