Rajasthan Reaches 3,000 MW Under PM-KUSUM Scheme

The PM-KUSUM programme supports farmers to install standalone solar pumps or develop small grid connected solar plants, offering options to displace diesel consumption and reduce irrigation costs. Farmers are enabled to connect surplus generation to local distribution networks and to sell power, creating an additional income stream and improving farm resilience to rising input prices. Implementation combines central guidelines with state-level policy measures and subsidy frameworks to encourage rapid deployment.

Rajasthan's geographic and climatic advantages, including high solar irradiation and large tracts of arid and semi arid land, have accelerated uptake of the scheme. Proactive state-level implementation and streamlined procedures are said to have reduced project lead times and transaction costs, enabling faster commissioning. The shift of agricultural load onto solar generation has eased pressure on distribution utilities and contributed to lower subsidy requirements and improved grid efficiency.

Environmental benefits include substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions through replacement of diesel pumps and lower combustion related pollution, aligning with national climate commitments. The programme has also created employment opportunities in rural areas in installation, operation and maintenance of solar assets, supporting local skill development and a growing clean energy workforce. Rajasthan's experience is presented as a replicable model for other states seeking to scale decentralised renewable solutions while advancing sustainable agriculture and energy security.