PM-KUSUM 2.0 announcement likely soon; agrivoltaics to get dedicated component

The second phase of the Centre’s flagship PM-KUSUM scheme is likely to be announced shortly, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi said on the sidelines of the curtain raiser for the seventh Agrivoltaics World Conference 2026.

“The process is on for PM-KUSUM 2.0, that is, Phase-II, and I am quite confident very shortly the honourable Prime Minister [will make the announcement],” Joshi told reporters.

Addressing the conference, the minister said the next phase of the scheme would include a dedicated component for agrivoltaics, which combines agricultural activity with solar power generation.

Joshi said the government’s broader focus would remain on supporting small and marginal farmers, farmer producer organisations (FPOs), cooperatives and panchayats as the country expands the use of renewable energy in agriculture.

He also called on industry stakeholders and researchers to deepen studies on agrivoltaic applications, particularly their suitability across different crops, climatic conditions and geographical regions.

“We need much more research. We need to understand what works best for different crops, climate and regions. One formula cannot work everywhere,” Joshi said, stressing the need for a “deeper study”.

Launched in 2019, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) aims to increase the use of solar energy in agriculture. The scheme supports the installation of decentralised solar power plants, standalone solar-powered agricultural pumps and the solarisation of grid-connected agricultural pumps.