FM Announces Expansion of PM KUSUM Scheme

In a move to push the use and to explore the solar energy in India by the farmers, the FM, Nirmala Sitharaman has proposed to expand the PM KUSUM scheme to set up grid-connected solar pumps to the tune of 15 lakhs.

Today, the Finance Minister announced the expansion of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) Scheme. Accordingly, 20 lakh farmers in the country would be provided funds to set up standalone solar pumps in the country, in a move to promote the use of solar energy.

At the time of presenting the budget for 2020-21, the finance minister said 15 lakh farmers will be given funds to set up grid-connected 15 lakh solar pumps.

Initially, the PM KUSUM Scheme was started with an outlay of Rs 34,422 crores.

The government has decided to encourage the farmers to use solar energy and thus reduce the use of diesel and kerosene which has been used since ages. This will also help the farmer community to set up solar power generation capacity and sell the same to the grid.

She further added that the farmers will be able to earn a livelihood using their barren land (unsuitable for agricultural produce) also as they can generate solar power in the land.

The PM KUSUM scheme has three components 10,000 megawatts (MW) of decentralized ground-mounted grid-connected renewable power plants which form Component A; installation of 17.50 lakh standalone solar-powered agriculture pumps which forms Component B and solarisation of 10 lakh grid-connected solar-powered agricultural pumps which forms Component C.

With the combination of all the above mentioned three components, the PM KUSUM scheme aims to add a solar capacity of 25,750 MW by 2022.