India expands solar energy initiatives for households and farmers

India is expanding its solar energy initiatives through the PM Surya Ghar Yojana and the PM-KUSUM scheme. Under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, approximately 5.58 million households nationwide have installed rooftop solar power systems, significantly reducing or eliminating electricity bills. In Gujarat alone, over 1.177 million families have utilized the scheme, with 833,000 successful installations generating roughly 3,123 megawatts of electricity. The government has allocated Rs 6,030 crore in subsidies directly to beneficiaries to support this transition.

Complementing residential efforts, the PM-KUSUM scheme, managed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, assists farmers in replacing diesel pumps with subsidized solar power. The program, which runs until March 31, 2027, allows farmers to install standalone pumps, solarize grid-connected pumps, or build small plants on barren land to sell surplus power. The subsidy typically covers about 60% of the benchmark cost for solar pumps, shared between central and state governments, helping to lower irrigation costs and provide additional income opportunities.