Agriculture

PM-KUSUM Yojana: India’s Solar Revolution in Farming

Updated on 05th June, 2025, By Abhijeet Warak

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PM-KUSUM Yojana: India’s Solar Revolution in Farming

The 'Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Uttam Mahabhiyan Yojna' (PM-KUSUM Yojna) is a project developed by the Indian government to promote solar energy in India's agriculture sector. The program intends to increase farmers' incomes while promoting more sustainable farming practices and reducing dependency on diesel. In this article, we will learn more about the program, its key components, subsidy structure and registration process. Keep reading to learn more.

What is the PM-KUSUM Yojana?

The PM-KUSUM Yojana ('Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Uttam Mahabhiyan Yojna') was first launched in March 2019. It was created to assist farmers in using solar energy to adopt sustainable farming practices. The project intends to reduce dependency on fuel and grid electricity, especially in rural areas where electricity is scarce. Under this program, farmers receive financial assistance from the government to install solar pumps and panels on their property. The government scheme offers a subsidy of up to 30-50% on the overall cost of installing solar pumps and power plants. The subsidy is provided by the central government and state governments. It not only benefits farmers but also helps to reduce pollution by using renewable energy.

Components of the PM-KUSUM Yojna

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Uttam Mahabhiyan Yojna (KUSUM-Yojna) is made up of three major components:

Component A: Decentralized Grid-Connected Renewable Energy

Installation of 10,000 MW of decentralized ground or stilt-mounted grid connected solar power plants. Each plant can be up to 2MW in size.

Beneficiaries: Individual Farmers, groups of farmers, cooperatives, panchayats, Farmer Producers, Organisations, (FPOs).

Component B: Installation of Standalone Solar Agricultural Pumps

Install 1.75 million standalone solar-powered agricultural pumps, particularly in off-grid areas. These pumps would work without electricity or fuel (solely dependent on solar energy). This would make the process of irrigation cheaper and much more reliable.

Component C: Solarisation of Grid-Connected Agricultural Pumps

Converting 35 Lakh existing grid-connected agricultural farm pumps through solarisation of individual pumps and solarising at feeder level.

PM-KUSUM Yojana Subsidy Structure

The following table outlines the subsidy distribution under the PM-KUSUM Yojana scheme:

Component	Central Govt. Subsidy	State Govt. Subsidy	Farmers Share
A	Not directly applicable to farmers; DISCOMs receive Rs. 0.40 per kWh or Rs. 6.6 lakh MW/Year for 5 years as procurement-based incentives (PBI).	Not applicable	Not applicable
B	30% of benchmark or tender cost (50% for north-easter states, J&K, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Lakshadweep and A&N islands).	Minimum 30%	Remaining 40% (can be reduced to 10% upfront with bank loan)
C	30% of benchmark or tender cost (50% for north-easter states, J&K, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Lakshadweep and A&N islands).	Minimum 30%	Remaining 40% (can be reduced to 10% upfront with bank loan)

*Farmers can also opt for a loan if they require more financial assistance. Under this scheme, a long-term loan is provided for setting up solar power plants on agricultural land. Bank finance can be used by farmers, where they initially have to pay only 10% of the cost and the remaining 30% of the cost as a loan.

How to Apply for PM-KUSUM Yojna?

To apply for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Uttam Mahabhiyan Yojna (KUSUM-Yojna), follow the steps outlined below:

Step 1: Visit the official website PM-KUSUM Farmer Registration Portal.

Step 2: Fill in the registration form on the screen with all the required information (name, address, Aadhaar number, etc.)

Step 3: Check the box of declaration and click on “submit”.

Step 4: Upload all the necessary documents and submit the application.

Step 5: After submission, you will receive a registration number.

What are the Documents Required to Apply for the PM-KUSUM Yojana?

Some of the important documents required for the PM-KUSUM Program:

Identity Proof: Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Driving License or Passport
Address Proof: Voter ID, Driving License, Aadhaar Card
Land Ownership Proof: Land documents certified by revenue authorities
Cropping Pattern: Details of crops grown and their acreage
Pump details: MNRE approved benchmark cost of the pump set
Photographs: Two passport-sized photographs
Application Form: Completed application form for the PM KUSUM scheme

If you’re looking for the PM Kusum Beneficiary applicant list, you can go to the official PM Kusum website and click on the option Search Beneficiary List and find your name under Public Information.

The PM-KUSUM Yojana is a great step towards making farming more sustainable and profitable. By helping farmers switch towards solar energy, it reduces electricity costs and ensures a reliable source of irrigation. By joining the scheme, farmers can secure a brighter, more self-reliant future while contributing to a greener India.

Published By

Abhijeet Warak

With over 2 years of experience, Abhijeet is a seasoned tractor and implement expert with an M.Tech (Agri) (FMP) from Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth. His knowledge is rooted in practical experience and academic excellence.