PM Kusum Yojana Comprehensive Guide: Businesses & Farmers

The PM Kusum Yojana is a government scheme that supports farmers and businesses in switching to solar energy by offering subsidies and financial benefits. This blog explains how the scheme works, who can apply, and how it helps industries reduce energy costs while going green.

What Is the PM KUSUM Yojana?

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaan (PM KUSUM) is a Government of India initiative, under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)—launched in 2019 to bolster decentralized solar capacity and de-dieselize agriculture.

Its dual aim is to:

  1. Ensure energy security and reliable irrigation for farmers
  2. Contribute to India’s 2030 targets of 500 GW of non-fossil electricity capacity.

Scheme Components

Component A: Decentralized Grid-Connected Solar Plants

Farmers, cooperatives, and rural entrepreneurs can install up to 2 MW of ground- or stilt-mounted solar or other renewable energy plants, selling power directly to DISCOMs under long-term PPAs.

Component B: Solarization of Existing Pumps

This covers up to 2 HP pumps, converting diesel or grid-powered pumps to solar, with surplus power sale permitted. It’s designed to replace high-cost diesel with clean energy, boosting farm incomes.

Component C: New Solar Irrigation Pumps

Separate support for new standalone solar pumps (up to 7.5 HP), combining usage and surplus sales. Landowners can also lease land to developers for feeder-level solar projects, earning predetermined lease rents.

Eligibility and Application Process

  1. Who Qualifies?
    • Individual farmers/farmers’ groups
    • Panchayats and producer organizations
    • Rural businesses, schools, and hospitals under specific provisions.

  2. Key Criteria:
    • No active power supply dues
    • Clear land or pump ownership documents
    • Bank account and Aadhaar linkage

  3. How to Apply:
    • Download guidelines and application forms from MNRE’s site.
    • Submit through state Nodal Agency portals
    • Track status via online dashboards

Subsidies and Financial Support

  • Central Financial Assistance (CFA):
    • Components A & C: up to 30 percent of benchmark cost (plus 30 percent additional for SC/ST farmers)
    • Component B: up to 60 percent of the pump cost, cascading over stages.

  • State Top-Ups: States may add their own grants, pushing total subsidies higher.
  • Low-cost Credit: Access via Kisan Credit Cards or commercial bank loans at subsidized rates.

By tapping into this government solar subsidy for commercial use, industrial consumers can dramatically reduce upfront costs and achieve payback within 4–6 years.

Benefits for Businesses and Farmers

  • Reduced Operating Costs: Switch from diesel or expensive grid power to free solar energy.
  • New Revenue Streams: Sell surplus power under pre-set tariffs to DISCOMs, generating extra income.
  • Energy Independence: Shield operations from erratic grid supply and diesel scarcity.
  • Environmental Impact: Lower carbon footprint, contributing to national and global climate goals.

For industries eyeing solar adoption, the Kusum Yojana benefits for businesses include improved CSR credentials, stable energy sourcing, and enhanced profitability.

Special Considerations for Industrial and Commercial Users

While originally designed for agriculture, Components A and C allow industrial landowners and business parks to:

  • Install decentralized solar parks (up to 2 MW) and secure long-term PPAs.
  • Lease land for feeder-level projects, earning steady lease rentals.

This makes the PM KUSUM yojana an attractive option for commercial solar portfolios, enabling companies to leverage the kusum solar scheme for industries to diversify their energy mix.

Implementation Timeline and Key Milestones

  • Scheme Launch: February 2019
  • Guideline Amendments: Mid-2019 and July 2020 to expand Component C and streamline processes.
  • Latest Updates: MNRE extended application deadlines and allowed additional budget releases through 2024–25.

How Sun Photonics Can Help

As a government-approved solar power installer in Haryana, Sun Photonics specializes in:
  • End-to-end project design, supply, and installation
  • Securing central and state subsidies on your behalf
  • Managing PPAs and regulatory compliance
  • Offering turnkey O&M services for sustained performance
Whether you’re a farmer wanting to solarize your pump or an industrial park aiming for a 2 MW decentralized plant, we’ll guide you through every step of the PM KUSUM journey.By harnessing the PM KUSUM yojana, you unlock clean, reliable power and tangible financial gains—be it on your fields or within your factory premises. Ready to power your future with solar? Contact Sun Photonics today for a tailored consultation and subsidy-optimized solution!

About the Author

Jatin Singh is a content developer at Sun Photonics Pvt. Ltd., specializing in creating impactful content for solar energy solutions. With a background in tech and health, he has previously worked in digital marketing and pharma. Passionate about sustainability, and currently exploring all things about solar!

Approval by an Expert: 
“This content is reviewed and approved by Dr. Sujata Bhaker, who holds a Doctorate in Renewable Energy and brings over 10 years of industry expertise.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

A Government of India initiative launched in March 2019 to deploy decentralized solar projects—solar pumps and grid-connected plants—to bolster farmers’ irrigation, boost incomes, and add 30.8 GW of solar capacity by 2022.

Individual farmers, farmer groups (FPOs, cooperatives), Panchayats, and other rural entities (e.g., schools, hospitals), as well as commercial/industrial landowners for Components A & C, provided they meet land-proximity and documentation criteria.

– Component B (solar pumps): 60 % of benchmark pump cost as central financial assistance.
– Components A & C (ground-mounted plants and solarized pumps): 30 % of benchmark cost (plus an extra 30 % for SC/ST farmers).

Download the scheme guidelines and application forms from the MNRE website, submit your completed application via your State Nodal Agency’s portal, and track approval through the online dashboard.

Yes. Excess generation from Components A and C can be supplied to the local DISCOM under a 25-year PPA at a pre-fixed tariff.

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