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PM-KUSUM solar pumps: program scales to 2.8 million by 2026

PM-KUSUM scheme has deployed approximately 2.8 million solar agricultural pumps and 4 GW of grid-connected solar capacity by Q1 2026. State implementation varies dramatically — Maharashtra and Rajasthan lead; Punjab, Haryana lag. Component-A grid-connected projects pivoted from utility-scale to MSME-led plus DISCOM partnership models.

By Meera Iyer··1 min read

In 50 words: PM-KUSUM has deployed approximately 2.8 million solar agricultural pumps and 4 GW grid-connected solar by Q1 2026. State implementation varies — Maharashtra and Rajasthan lead; Punjab, Haryana lag. Component-A grid-connected projects pivoted from utility-scale to MSME-led models with DISCOM partnership.

Three components, mixed outcomes

PM-KUSUM has three components:

  • Component A: 10 GW of decentralised grid-connected solar at substation level — 4 GW delivered, target was 10 GW by 2026
  • Component B: standalone solar pumps for farmers — 2.0 million units deployed against 1.75 million target
  • Component C: solarisation of existing grid-connected pumps — 0.8 million units against 1 million target

State performance variation

Most active states (cumulative pumps under Component B+C):

  • Maharashtra: 480,000
  • Rajasthan: 420,000
  • Gujarat: 380,000
  • Madhya Pradesh: 290,000
  • Karnataka: 260,000
  • Punjab: 95,000 (well below state target)
  • Haryana: 85,000 (well below state target)

Why the variation

Three factors explain state-level divergence:

  1. DISCOM cooperation. State DISCOM willingness to engage with farmers and process subsidies varies dramatically.
  2. Subsidy disbursement speed. Maharashtra and Rajasthan have invested in dedicated processing infrastructure; Punjab and Haryana have not.
  3. Local installer ecosystem. States with developed local MSME installer networks scale faster than those reliant on outside contractors.

Component A pivot

The original Component A vision — 500 kW–2 MW projects at substation level via utility-scale developers — under-delivered. The pivot in 2025 to MSME-led project ownership with DISCOM PPA back-stops has accelerated 2026 commissioning.

What to watch next

The PM-KUSUM 2.0 scheme expected H2 2026 will likely scale the targets to 15 GW Component A and 5 million standalone+solarised pumps by 2028. Watch for updated subsidy structure and DISCOM coordination mandates.

Researched and drafted with AI assistance; reviewed and edited by the named editor within 24 hours of draft.

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