The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan, KUSUM Yojana is one of the largest initiatives in the world to provide clean energy to more than 3.5 million farmers across the country. The scheme was launched by the Government of India aiming at increasing the income of farmers providing sources for irrigation and de-dieselizing the agricultural sector. The Kusum Solar Yojana got administrative approval in March 2019 and guidelines were prepared in July 2019. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) oversees the scheme while planning to set up solar pumps and various other new power plants across the country.
Major components of the scheme
Pradhan Mantri Solar Yojana is divided into three components:
- Component A
Installing grid-connected ground-mounted solar power plants (up to 2 MW) while aiming at aggregating to a total capacity of 10 GW. Each plant is sized up to 500KW to 2MV.
- Component B
Installing 1.75 million standalone solar pumps – up to 7.5 HP individual capacity – worth Rs. 17.50 lakh.
- Component C
Solarizing 1 million grid-connected agricultural pumps of 7.5HP of capacity each; providing financial support of 10 lakh.
Objectives of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan – KUSUM Yojana
The principal purpose or aim of the PM Kusum Solar Yojana is to make cutting-edge technology easily available to farmers across the country while providing all the required resources for the effective de-dieselizing of the agricultural sector, particularly irrigation. The solar pumps in this scheme will assist the farmers of the country with achieving a better, more efficient and effective methodology of irrigation since the solar pumps are capable of generating green and safe energy. Apart from that, the pump sets proposed in the scheme comprise an energy power grid that has the capacity to generate more energy than their diesel-driven counterparts. What’s more, farmers can also sell the surplus energy directly to various designated Govt. Bodies/Entities to increase their income.
Major benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan – KUSUM Yojana
The Pradhan Mantri Kusum Solar Yojana has been launched to provide a plethora of benefits to all its stakeholders. The government has planned the construction and installation of solar plants that will have a power generation capacity of more than 28,250 MW. The Government will be subsidizing 60% of it, and provide a loan of 30% of the total cost. These moves will benefit farmers as they need to bear only 10% of the total expenditure made against the installation of solar plants and solar pumps. As per the scheme’s provision, the Government will be offering subsidies for the installation of state-of-the-art solar pumps with a capacity of up to 720 MV.
Some other allied benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Kusum Yojana include:
1. Farmers will be free to sell extra generated energy
2. A stable source of income for the rural landholders since they can use their barren and uncultivated land for 25 years
3.The solar plants set up will be materialized above a minimum height in cultivable lands, enabling farmers to continue the cultivation of different crops even after installing the plants
4. KUSUM Scheme encourages the increasing use of renewable energy while ensuring to mitigation of pollution across farms through eco-friendly cultivation.
Which are the eligible categories for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan – KUSUM Yojana?
1. An individual farmer
2. A group of farmers
3. FPO or Farmer producer organization
4. Panchayat
5. Co-operatives
6. Water User Associations.
What are the steps involved in the process of applying for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) Yojana?
Those interested can apply for the Kusum Solar Pump Yojana by following the steps given below:
Step 1: Go to the official portal and click on the registration section.
Step 2: Fill in the registration form that appears on your screen with all the required details.
Step 3: Check the box of declaration and click on “submit”.
Step 4: After registering, click on “login” for Solar Agricultural Pumpset Subsidy Scheme 2021.
Step 5: Provide all necessary information accurately in the online application form, attach all the supporting documents, and submit.
What are the documents required and the amount of initial deposits to avail of the benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Solar Pump Scheme?
1. Aadhar card
2. A land document including KhasraKhatauni
3. A bank account passbook
4. A declaration form
5. Mobile number
6. Passport-size photo.
Once you are successful in completing the online application procedure to apply for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) Yojana, you need to deposit 10% of the total cost for the installation of a solar pump to the service provider or supplier designated and sent by the concerned GOVT. Department.
Final Words
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) Yojana not only aims at accelerating the use and production of solar power but also provides benefits of farming through solar energy to farmers across the country. The Government in the Union Budget 2018-19 has set aside a sum of Rs.48000 crores for this program for 10 years.
