The Centre is expected to announce the second phase of the PM-KUSUM scheme soon, with agrivoltaics likely to receive a dedicated component under the proposed PM-KUSUM 2.0.
Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi said the process for the second phase is underway and indicated that a formal announcement could be made shortly.
Launched in 2019, PM-KUSUM aims to expand the use of solar energy in agriculture by supporting solar-powered pumps, decentralised renewable energy generation and the solarisation of agricultural power infrastructure.
Agrivoltaics to Become a Key Focus
A major feature expected under PM-KUSUM 2.0 is greater support for agrivoltaics, a model in which agricultural activity and solar power generation take place on the same land.
The approach could allow farmers to continue cultivation while solar installations generate renewable electricity. This is particularly relevant as India seeks to expand clean-energy capacity without putting additional pressure on land availability.
The proposed focus is expected to support small and marginal farmers as well as farmer producer organisations (FPOs), cooperatives and panchayats.
Government Preparing the Second Phase
Speaking on the sidelines of the curtain-raiser event for the seventh Agrivoltaics World Conference 2026, Pralhad Joshi said the government was working on PM-KUSUM 2.0 and expressed confidence that the Prime Minister would announce the next phase shortly.
The development comes as India continues to expand renewable-energy infrastructure in agricultural areas. Under the existing PM-KUSUM framework, solarisation of agricultural feeders has also been used to bring decentralised solar generation closer to farming communities.
Recent projects demonstrate the direction of this approach. In Maharashtra, a 322 MWp decentralised solar portfolio across 50 sites in Nashik has been developed under the state's Mukhyamantri Saur Krushi Vahini Yojana 2.0, which operates under the broader PM-KUSUM framework.
Potential Benefits for Farmers
The expansion of agrivoltaics could provide farmers with an additional avenue for participating in India's renewable-energy transition while retaining agricultural use of land.
If properly implemented, the model could support renewable power generation, improve the utilisation of agricultural land and create additional economic opportunities for farming communities.
The government is also expected to maintain its focus on smaller farmers and local institutions. Clear eligibility rules, transparent implementation and effective monitoring will be important as the programme expands. Strong financial oversight, including appropriate auditing services in india, can also support transparency in large-scale projects involving public funding, farmers and renewable-energy developers.
PM-KUSUM's Wider Renewable Energy Role
PM-KUSUM has become an important part of India's effort to bring solar energy closer to the agricultural sector. Its different components have supported decentralised solar projects, solar-powered agricultural pumps and feeder-level solarisation.
With PM-KUSUM 2.0, the inclusion of a dedicated agrivoltaics component could broaden the scheme beyond conventional solarisation and encourage new models that combine farming with renewable-energy generation.
Key Takeaway
The expected launch of PM-KUSUM 2.0 could mark a new stage in India's solar-agriculture strategy. A dedicated focus on agrivoltaics may allow farmers to participate in renewable-energy generation while continuing agricultural activities, provided the new framework is designed with practical implementation and farmer needs in mind.