The activist was demanding the arrest of Ram Naresh Yadav's in the Vyapam scam.
An RTI activist set himself on fire in front of Raj Bhawan in Bhopal, demanding former Governor Ram Naresh Yadav's arrest in the Vyapam scam.
The activist, Manoj Tripathi, has not suffered major burn injuries, but he has been taken for medical examination, they added.
"Manoj, an RTI activist, poured kerosene and set himself on fire. Policemen deputed in and around Raj Bhawan immediately rushed and doused the flames in a few seconds. He might have sustained minor burns," Bhopal Inspector General of Police Yogesh Choudhary said.
The activist was demanding the arrest of Mr Yadav in the Vyapam scam, Mr Choudhary said.
"I don't have much details about injuries caused to him and Superintendent of Police Anshuman Singh was personally looking into the case," the IPS officer said.
The IG denied reports that Mr Manoj set himself ablaze in front of the convoy of Mr Yadav, 89, when he was leaving the Raj Bhawan for the airport to catch a flight to Lucknow.
The activist has been taken for medical examination. Mr Manoj will be booked for his act, he added.
Mr Yadav, an UPA-appointee, managed to complete his full term but faced tough time when he was accused of rigging a forest guard recruitment test conducted by Vyavsayik Pariksha Mandal or MP Professional Examination Board, popularly called Vyapam, in 2015.
Madhya Pradesh Police's Special Task Force, which earlier probed the recruitment and admission scandal, had booked Mr Yadav for alleged fraud and other criminal offences.
Thereafter, Mr Yadav moved the Madhya Pradesh High Court for quashing the FIR against him.
In May 2015, the high court quashed the FIR against him, holding he enjoyed immunity against prosecution while in office.
It remains to be seen if the CBI, now handling the high-profile scandal, will proceed against Mr Yadav, a former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, Gujarat Governor OP Kohli reached the Raj Bhawan and will take additional charge of Madhya Pradesh on Thursday.
Madhya Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Rajendra Menon will administer the oath of office to Mr Kohli, a Raj Bhawan official said.