New Delhi: The government is expected to extend the deadline for the PM-KUSUM scheme once again, as two of its key components have failed to reach even half of their targets, an official source said.
Launched in 2019, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) aimed to add 30,800 MW of solar capacity by 2022, with total central financial support of Rs 34,422 crore, including service charges for implementing agencies.
The Centre had earlier extended the scheme until March 2026 due to pandemic-related delays and raised the target to 34,800 MW. The official source indicated that a further extension is likely to ensure that the scheme meets its intended objectives. This would be the second extension for PM-KUSUM.
According to official data, none of the scheme’s components have achieved their full targets. Component B, which runs until March 2026, has reached 71% of its target as of September 9. Component A has seen minimal progress at just 6.5%, while Component C (IPS) and Component C (FLS) have achieved 16.5% and 25.5%, respectively.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) explained the components as follows: Component A targets the installation of 10,000 MW of solar capacity through small solar power plants; Component B involves installing 14 lakh off-grid standalone solar-powered agriculture pumps; and Component C focuses on solarising 35 lakh grid-connected agriculture pumps.
Under Component A, only 650.49 MW has been installed. Several states, including Telangana, Tripura, Odisha, Gujarat, and Assam, have reported no installations, while Uttar Pradesh (1 MW), Tamil Nadu (3 MW), Maharashtra and Goa (4 MW), and Chhattisgarh (7 MW) have made only minimal progress.
For Component B, over 12.72 lakh off-grid solar pumps have been sanctioned, with 9.03 lakh installed so far. Andaman and Nicobar, Puducherry, and Telangana have yet to report any installations as of September 2025.
