- Why in news
- On 24 March 2026 the MNRE told Rajya Sabha that PM-KUSUM had benefited 21,77,369 farmers by 31 December 2025, and gave component-wise installation and funding details.
- What it is
- PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan) is a central scheme of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy launched in 2019. It promotes solar power for farmers through solar plants on farm land, standalone solar pumps and solarisation of existing grid-connected pumps or agriculture feeders. It aims to cut diesel use and give farmers extra income.
- Delivery model
- The scheme is demand-driven. States raise demand, and the State Implementing Agency selects beneficiaries and implements it.
Don’t confuse with PM-KUSUM vs PM Surya Ghar: PM-KUSUM supports solar for farmers (pumps, feeders, plants). PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana is for rooftop solar on homes.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Reduces farmers' dependence on diesel and subsidised grid power, and lowers the power subsidy burden on states.
- Gives farmers extra income by selling surplus solar power to DISCOMs.
Problems
- Uneven progress: Component A has installed 720.91 MW against 10,000 MW sanctioned, and funds are concentrated in a few states such as Maharashtra and Haryana.
- Dependence on state demand and state shares, and on weak DISCOM finances, slows implementation.
Way forward
- Strengthen DISCOM payment security and grid connectivity for plants, and use feeder solarisation.
- Support small farmers with easier finance, and promote efficient pumps and groundwater management.
- 2020Mains GS3 · Q16Benefits of solar electricity over conventional energy, and government initiatives for it
- 2025Mains GS1 · Q6Ecological and economic benefits of solar energy generation in India, with examples
- 2020Mains GS1 · Q16India's solar energy potential and its regional variations in development
- 2020Prelims Q88Can solar power run surface, submersible, centrifugal or piston pumps?
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Statements
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements:
- 1.Under PM-KUSUM, the State Implementing Agency is responsible for selecting beneficiaries and implementing the scheme.
- 2.Component A of PM-KUSUM provides Central Financial Assistance of 30% of benchmark cost for setting up solar power plants.
- 3.Agriculture feeder solarisation under Component C can be implemented in CAPEX or RESCO mode.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
True or false?
1 of 5
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.Under PM-KUSUM, the State Implementing Agency is responsible for selecting beneficiaries and implementing the scheme.
True. SIAs select beneficiaries and implement the scheme.
2.The scheme allocates fixed capacities to every state irrespective of the demand raised by the state.
False. It is demand-driven, with capacity allocated on state demand and milestones achieved.
3.Agriculture feeder solarisation under Component C can be implemented in CAPEX or RESCO mode.
True. Feeder solarisation can use CAPEX or RESCO mode.
4.PM-KUSUM is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
False. It is a scheme of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
5.Under Component A, the Procurement Based Incentive to DISCOMs is paid for five years.
True. PBI is given for five years at 40 paise/kWh or Rs 6.60 lakh/MW/year, whichever is lower.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.