PM-KUSUM 2.0 announcement likely soon; agrivoltaics to get dedicated component

Published 2026-09-11 · Updated 2026-09-11 · 3 min · 531 words

UPSC CSE Context

Why in News

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi announced that PM-KUSUM 2.0 is likely to be launched soon, with a dedicated agrivoltaics component.

Syllabus Connection

Government schemes for agriculture and renewable energy; sustainable development; technology in agriculture.

Exam Relevance

Important for questions on renewable energy in agriculture, agrivoltaics, and inclusive growth for small farmers.

Core Issue

PM-KUSUM 2.0 to include agrivoltaics component.

Key Development

The next phase of PM-KUSUM will have a dedicated component for agrivoltaics, combining farming with solar power generation.

Stakeholders

• Small and marginal farmers
• Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)
• Cooperatives
• Panchayats
• Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
• Industry stakeholders and researchers

Static Knowledge

High-Value Background

• PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan) was launched in 2019 to promote solar energy in agriculture.
• The scheme has three components: installation of decentralized solar power plants, standalone solar-powered agricultural pumps, and solarisation of grid-connected agricultural pumps.

Concepts in Context

• Agrivoltaics refers to the simultaneous use of land for agriculture and solar photovoltaic power generation.
• Decentralised solar power plants are small-scale installations that generate electricity close to the point of use, reducing transmission losses.

Institutions and Mechanisms

• State nodal agencies and distribution companies (DISCOMs) are involved in implementation at the state level.

Dynamic Analysis

Economy

• Agrivoltaics can increase land-use efficiency and provide additional income to farmers through solar power generation.
• The expansion of solar pumps may reduce the subsidy burden on state governments for electricity supply to agriculture.

Environment

• Solarisation of agriculture can reduce carbon emissions by replacing diesel pumps and grid electricity from fossil fuels.
• Agrivoltaics may help in water conservation by providing shade, reducing evaporation from soil and crops.
• The scheme promotes renewable energy, aligning with India's climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.
• Potential land-use conflicts may arise if agrivoltaics is not carefully planned to avoid compromising agricultural productivity.

Governance

• The success of PM-KUSUM 2.0 depends on effective coordination between central and state agencies for implementation.
• The scheme's expansion may require capacity building of DISCOMs to manage distributed solar generation.

Science and Technology

• Research on agrivoltaic suitability for different crops and climates is crucial for optimising the technology.
• The minister's call for deeper studies highlights the need for region-specific agrivoltaic designs.
• Technological innovations in solar panel design can minimise shading impacts on crop growth.
• Data from pilot projects can inform policy decisions and scaling up of agrivoltaics.

Mains Value Addition

Arguments

• Agrivoltaics can address the dual challenge of energy security and agricultural sustainability.
• The scheme can reduce the carbon footprint of agriculture while enhancing farmer incomes.
• Decentralised solar power can improve energy access in rural areas and reduce transmission losses.

Counterpoints

• High initial costs of solar infrastructure may deter small farmers despite subsidies.
• Agrivoltaics may reduce crop yields if not properly designed for specific crops and regions.
• The success of the scheme depends on the financial health of DISCOMs and their ability to integrate distributed generation.

Way Forward

• Conduct extensive research on agrivoltaic designs suitable for different agro-climatic zones.
• Strengthen capacity building of state nodal agencies and DISCOMs for effective implementation.
• Promote pilot projects to generate data on agrivoltaic performance and farmer adoption.
• Ensure convergence with other agricultural schemes to maximise benefits for farmers.

Primary/reference source: Economy