Why in news?
PM-KUSUM 2.0 is the upcoming expansion of India’s flagship solarisation scheme for agriculture, focusing on feeder-level solarisation to provide reliable, clean, and affordable power to farmers while reducing subsidy burdens and diesel dependence.
About PM-KUSUM
- Full form: Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan
- Launched: March 2019, scaled up in January 2024
- Objective: Provide energy and water security to farmers, enhance income, de-dieselize agriculture, and reduce environmental pollution.
PM-KUSUM 1.0 – Key Components
- Component A:
Farmers can set up decentralized grid-connected solar or renewable energy plants (up to 2 MW) on their land.
- Component B:
Installation of standalone solar pumps to replace diesel pumps.
- Component C:
Solarisation of existing grid-connected agricultural pumps.
PM-KUSUM 2.0 – What’s New?
- Feeder-level solarisation: Instead of focusing only on individual pumps, PM-KUSUM 2.0 emphasizes solarising entire agricultural feeders. This ensures reliable daytime power supply for all farmers connected to that feeder.
- Decentralised solar push: Strengthens India’s renewable energy goals by reducing grid stress and subsidy burdens.
- Farmer benefits:
- Lower electricity costs
- Reduced dependence on diesel
- Opportunity to earn income by selling surplus solar power to DISCOMs.
- Policy alignment: Supports India’s climate commitments and agricultural sustainability by integrating clean energy into rural infrastructure.
Risks & Challenges
- Implementation delays: Past rollout faced slow adoption due to financing and state-level coordination.
- DISCOM cooperation: Success depends on distribution companies buying surplus solar power.
- Farmer awareness: Need for strong outreach to prevent misinformation and scams (fake websites have already been flagged).
Download Pdf
