Muft Bijli Yojana, the PM Surya Ghar was introduced in February 2024, and it was hoped to be a game-changer in India’s shift to clean energy. The scheme promised free electricity up to 300 units per month to households and high subsidies on rooftop solar installations, which would lead to uptake of solar energy in the nation.
But as some of the states have been ahead of the pack, Madhya Pradesh (MP) is still lagging miles behind in implementation and this is an issue of concern regarding the effectiveness of the program being implemented, consumer confidence and overall effectiveness of the program.
Slow Progress in Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh was ranked at number 9 in the country with only 627 MW of rooftop solar capacity in July 2025. This is a strikingly low figure compared to other leading states:
- Gujarat - 5,835 MW
- Maharashtra - 3,745 MW
- Rajasthan - 1,710 MW
This wide gap shows that MP is struggling to keep pace with the national momentum of the rooftop solar drive.
Why the Lag?
1. The “Free Electricity” Dilemma
The scheme’s headline promise of 300 free units of electricity per month has not translated into reality for many consumers in MP. Here’s why:
- During the day, rooftop solar systems can generate the promised units.
- But at night, when solar generation stops, households often draw the same units back from the grid.
- For this nighttime usage, consumers in MP are charged a surcharge of ₹560 for 300 units.
This surcharge effectively nullifies the idea of free electricity, making the scheme less attractive. Instead of receiving zero bills, households end up paying mandatory charges, which has led many to view the scheme as “subsidized electricity” rather than truly free power.
2. Consumer Discontent and Criticism
Energy experts and retired engineers have pointed out that this implementation defeats the spirit of the scheme. Critics argue that unless the surcharge is waived, the program cannot live up to its name. It has even been suggested that the scheme, in case it is not implemented in the manner promised, should be renamed to tell the truth—something like Subsidized Electricity Scheme instead of Muft Bijli Yojana.
This kind of criticism underscores the increasing frustrations of consumers most of whom believe they are being cheated by the difference between what is promised in the policies and the benefits.
3. Administrative and Policy Barriers
Unlike Gujarat and Maharashtra—where utility companies and local governments have aggressively promoted rooftop solar—Madhya Pradesh has struggled with:
- Slower subsidy disbursement processes
- Confusion in net-metering policies
- Lack of awareness among rural households
- Higher upfront costs despite subsidies
These barriers have collectively dampened adoption.
Bright Spots: Regional Success Stories
Madhya Pradesh has been laggard by the state but some parts of the state are encouraging.
The Malwa-Nimar region has experienced more than 36,000 rooftop solar installations, due to ameliorative local implementation and sensitization efforts.
Indore alone is estimated to have nearly 9,000 beneficiaries, which would demonstrate how urban centres with more vigorous civic administration can be a role model.
Over 125 crore subsidies have already been disbursed to consumers within these regions and direct financial assistance and development of faith in the scheme has been established.
These success stories show that rooftop solar can rapidly be scaled when properly implemented.
National Context
As MP trails, the scheme in general has spread across India. By mid-2025:
- More than 15 lakh households had installed rooftop solar in the scheme.
- Gujarat has the highest adoption with Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan coming behind it.
The central government is also hopeful that it can achieve its 1 crore household target by 2027, particularly with the new forms of aggregation models and vendor alliances simplifying installations.
This comparison demonstrates that the backwardness of Madhya Pradesh does not stem from the imperfection of the national scheme as such, but instead it is a set of state-specific problems.
What Needs to Change?
- Remove or Reduce the Surcharge - Waiving the ₹560 grid surcharge for nighttime usage would restore faith in the “free electricity” promise.
- Make Subsidy Supplies Smoother - More rapid disbursement of subsidies through direct transfers can make households invest without afraid of stalling.
- Awareness Campaigns - Rural and semi-urban regions should be better outreached to clarify about long term savings and consistency of rooftop solar.
- Utility Incentives - Distribution companies should be incentivized to promote rooftop solar rather than treat it as competition to their revenue.
Conclusion
The slow rooftop solar implementation in Madhya Pradesh through the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana is a typical disparity between the policy wording and actual implementation at the ground level. Although other states such as Gujarat and Maharashtra show promise of the scheme, the surcharge system and administrative barriers in MP have slackened down the pace and the people are left disillusioned.
However, the experience of successful implementation in such areas as Indore also demonstrates that with the proper strategy, implementation can be expedited. Madhya Pradesh needs to step up to the challenge of going green with the scheme and guarantee the people the relief guaranteed on their electricity bills, but in order to do this, the state needs to break down the structural and policy barriers that are keeping it at bay.
