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In News
- The deadline for The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Uttham Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme to install 30,000 MW solar power capacity in rural India by 2022, has now been pushed to 2026 due to Covid- 19.
About PM-KUSUM
- It is a scheme by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy launched in 2019.
- It is aimed at ensuring energy security for farmers in India, along with India’s commitment to increase the share of installed capacity of electric power from non-fossil-fuel sources to 40% by 2030 as part of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs).
The Scheme consists of three components:
- Component A: Addition of 10,000 MW of solar capacity through installation of small solar power plants of capacity up to 2 MW. Procurement Based Incentive (PBI) will be provided for the first five years by MNRE to DISCOMs, for buying the power from farmers/developers.
- Component B: Installation of 20 lakh standalone solar powered agricultural pumps.
- Component C: Solarisation of 15 lakh existing Grid-connected Agriculture Pumps.
- Centre’s Assistance of 30%, State Government subsidy 30%; Remaining 40% by the farmer will be provided in component B and C.
- In North Eastern States, Sikkim, J&K, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Lakshadweep and A&N Islands, Centre’s assistance of 50%, State Government subsidy 30%, Remaining 20% by the farmer.
Expected Outcomes
- Employment Generation: The scheme has direct employment generation potential upto 7.55 lakh jobs for skilled and unskilled workers.
- Enhancing farmers’ income is one of the most important policy priorities of the Government. PM-KUSUM will serve this objective by replacing high cost diesel with less expensive solar energy.
- Day-time power: Providing solar panels for irrigation under PM-KUSUM would result in day-time reliable power to farmers making irrigation easier for them and also avoiding overuse of water and power.
- Reducing Carbon Emissions: PM-KUSUM will lead to reducing carbon emissions by as much as 32 million tonnes of CO2 per annum.
- Boost to domestic production: PM-KUSUM has a mandatory requirement for deploying domestically produced solar cells and modules under Component B and C. This will create demand for domestically produced solar cells and modules and thus give fillip to domestic solar manufacturing.
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