Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM)

PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan) is a central scheme of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. It was approved in 2019 to give farmers energy and water security, raise farm incomes, reduce the use of diesel in agriculture and cut pollution.

The scheme has three components:

Component A: small solar power plants

Solar plants of up to 2 MW can be set up on barren, fallow or otherwise unused land, or on stilts above crops, by individual farmers, groups of farmers, cooperatives, panchayats or Farmer Producer Organisations. The local power distribution company buys the electricity at a tariff fixed by the state regulator, so the landowner earns a regular lease or sale income.

Component B: standalone solar pumps

Farmers in areas without grid power can replace diesel pumps with standalone solar water pumps (generally up to 7.5 HP).

Component C: solarisation of grid-connected pumps

Farmers with an electricity connection can solarise their existing agricultural pumps, individually or through feeder-level solarisation. Surplus power can be sold to the distribution company.

• Central financial assistance of 30% of the benchmark cost for solar pumps (higher for the North-Eastern and hilly states and Union Territories), as set out in the scheme guidelines.
• State subsidy of a further 30% in the standard pattern, so the farmer typically pays about 40% of the benchmark cost. Bank loans are available for the farmer share.
• Lower running cost: solar pumps run without diesel and cut or remove the electricity bill for irrigation.
• Extra income: surplus solar power can be sold to the distribution company, and land under Component A can earn lease or sale income.
• Remote monitoring of pumps is part of the specification.

• Farmers who own or have the right to cultivate land, including individuals, groups of farmers, cooperatives, Water User Associations, panchayats and Farmer Producer Organisations (for Component A).
• For Component B, farmers with irrigation needs and no grid connection who currently use or need a diesel or other off-grid pump.
• For Component C, farmers with an existing grid-connected agricultural pump.
• Exact rules, pump capacity limits and the local share differ by state. Check with your state nodal agency or electricity distribution company.

• Pumps must meet the technical specifications and be bought from empanelled vendors under the state programme.
• Subsidy is limited to the benchmark cost and to the pump capacity allowed in the guidelines.
• Availability depends on state allocation of the central quota. Applications may be taken in rounds.

How to apply

1. Find your state nodal agency (usually the state renewable energy development agency) or your electricity distribution company. The national scheme portal lists state contacts.
2. Check whether applications are open in your state, and under which component.
3. Apply through the state portal or the agency office, with land and identity proof and a bank account in the applicant's name.
4. After approval, pay the farmer share to the empanelled vendor. The vendor installs the system and the subsidy is settled with the agency.

Open the official PM-KUSUM portal