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Solar pumping (PM-KUSUM)
What it is
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan replaces diesel and grid irrigation pumps with solar. Outlay is around Rs 34,422 cr, with Rs 5,000 cr allocated in Budget 2026-27
Over 10 lakh pumps had been installed or solarised by early 2026, with 4.4 lakh under Component-B in FY25 alone - a 4.2x jump
Impact on industries
- Converts a subsidised replacement programme into a large, visible order book - roughly 90 lakh diesel pumps remain in use and 11 crore farmers lack reliable irrigation
- Solar pumps carry higher realisation than conventional pump sets and bundle panels, controllers and installation into the sale
- Order flow is scheme-dependent and state-administered, so payment cycles and allocation timing sit outside the manufacturer's control
- Domestic content rules push makers into cell and module manufacture, a capital-heavy adjacency, and the current phase ended Mar 2026 pending Phase II