About:

• The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evem Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) Scheme was launched in 2019 for installation of solar pumps and grid connected solar and other renewable power plants in the country.
• It was launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
• Under the Kusum scheme farmers, panchayat, co-operative societies can apply to plant a solar pump. The total cost involved in this scheme is divided into three categories in which the Government will help farmers.
• Government will provide a subsidy of 60% to farmers and 30% of the cost will be given by Government in the form of loans. Farmers will only have to give 10% of the total cost of the project. The electricity generated from the solar panel can be sold by the farmers.
• The Scheme consists of three components:
  • Component A: 10,000 MW of Decentralized Ground Mounted Grid Connected Renewable Power Plants of individual plant size up to 2 MW.
  • Component B: Installation of 17.50 lakh standalone Solar Powered Agriculture Pumps of individual pump capacity up to 7.5 HP.
  • Component C: Solarisation of 10 Lakh Grid-connected Agriculture Pumps of individual pump capacity up to 7.5 HP.

Benefits of the Scheme: 

• The Scheme will have substantial environmental impact in terms of savings of CO2 emissions. All three components of the Scheme combined together are likely to result in saving about 27 million tonnes of CO2 emission per annum.
• Further, Component-B of the Scheme on standalone solar pumps may result in saving of 1.2 billion liters of diesel per annum and associated savings in the foreign exchange due to reduction of import of crude oil.
• The scheme has direct employment potential. Besides increasing self-employment the proposal is likely to generate employment opportunities equivalent to 6.31 lakh job years for skilled and unskilled workers.

Why in News?

The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy issued a fresh advisory against fraudulent websites claiming registration under PM-KUSUM Scheme.