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Kisan Urja Surksha Utthan Mahaabhiyan (KUSUM)

  • 23 Feb 2019

Why is it in News?

The solar pump scheme, KUSUM was given nod by the Cabinet after a year of its announcement.

The KUSUM Scheme:

Aim of the scheme: It aims to promote use of solar power among the farmers; the solar pumps will not only assist the farmers to irrigate, but will also allow each farmer to generate safe energy. The agricultural labors will be able to sell the extra power directly to the government. It will provide them with extra income as well.

Features of Scheme:

  • Farmers/ Panchayats can set up 10,000 MW of grid connected renewable power plants in their fallow or waste land which can help them in earning extra income.
  • Farmers will be supported to install stand alone solar powered agricultural pumps (Target- 17.5 lakh pumps)
  • Solarisation of 10 lakh grid connected solar powered agricultural pumps.
  • The scheme in totality aims to add 25,750 MW of solar energy capacity by 2022.
  • The Union Budget 2018-19 has set aside a sum of Rs. 48000 crores for this programme for ten years.

Benefits of this Scheme:

  • It will help India in meeting its INDC (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions) targets under Paris Summit.
  • It will support the farmers by providing them extra income.
  • It has potential to generate skilled and unskilled jobs to the tune of 7 lakhs per year.
  • It will save diesel to the tune of 1.3 billion litres which will have a soothing impact on Current Account Deficit of India.