Economy GS 3 In the news 8 times

PM-KUSUM Scheme

Solar Irrigation at Scale

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM), launched in 2019, is the Government of India's flagship programme for solarising India's agricultural sector. The scheme has three components: standalone solar pumps for individual farmers, solarisation of existing grid-connected agricultural pumps, and farm-scale solar power plants that allow farmers to sell surplus electricity to DISCOMs. PM-KUSUM is the formal policy complement to the CSV model's grassroots solar adoption.

Key details

PM-KUSUM components: (A) 10,000 MW decentralised ground-mounted solar; (B) 20 lakh standalone solar pumps; (C) 15 lakh solarisation of existing grid-connected pumps
Budget 2026 allocation: Rs 26 billion (approximately) earmarked for PM-KUSUM, signalling continued priority
NABARD's role: Provides refinancing and credit for solar irrigation under PM-KUSUM; also channels climate finance from Green Climate Fund (GCF) and other sources
Dhundi model (Gujarat): First solar pump irrigator's cooperative in India; farmers sell surplus solar power to grid — earning double income (farming + power)
Carbon benefit: Diesel displacement reduces both costs and GHG emissions from the farm sector

In the news

● Tracked since March 01, 2026 · last seen August 23, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes

23 Aug '26

Sowing the seeds of a solar power intervention

Environment & Ecology

26 Apr '26

Solar infra helps India meet record 256GW power demand

Economics

14 Apr '26

Weak grid infrastructure, land access, financial barriers for developers slowed PM-KUSUM's progress: Study

Economics

12 Apr '26