Q. "Solar irrigation might further deepen the ground water crisis in India." In this context, examine how the PM - KUSUM scheme can promote clean...
Question
Q. "Solar irrigation might further deepen the ground water crisis in India." In this context, examine how the PM - KUSUM scheme can promote clean energy transition without compromising on groundwater sustainability. (15 marks 250 Words)
Model Answer
Q. "Solar irrigation might further deepen the ground water crisis in India." In this context, examine how the PM - KUSUM scheme can promote clean energy transition without compromising on groundwater sustainability. (15 marks 250 Words)
Paper
GS III
Subject
Economic Development
Syllabus as Per Notification
Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
Topic
Solar Irrigation and PM-KUSUM scheme.
Approach:
Introduction
Introduce by defining Solar Irrigation and its near-zero marginal pumping cost can encourage greater groundwater extraction.
Body
Why solar irrigation may deepen groundwater stress?
Near-zero pumping cost, Weak price–water linkage, Location specific Ground water risk.
PM-KUSUM: Clean-energy transition without compromising groundwater
Strengthen De-dieselise irrigation, promote water-efficient irrigation, Aquifer-sensitive deployment, convert farmers from consumers to “prosumers”, Enhances feeder-level solarisation.
Limitations
Slow uptake of Components A & C-FLS, Affordability and inclusion barriers, Energy–agriculture incentive mismatch.
Way Forward
Adopting aquifer-based solarisation, aligning solarisation with crop diversification, promoting “sell solar, save water” model, Promoting inclusive and future-ready solar irrigation.
Conclusion
Conclude by emphasising solar-powered agriculture should be guided by the principle of “clean energy, efficient water use and resilient livelihoods.”
Context
As thegovernment prepares PM-KUSUM 2.0, the challenge is to advance the clean energy transition without continuing to over-exploit groundwater.
Introduction
Solar irrigation refers to the use of solar photovoltaic energy to power agricultural pumps, reducing dependence on diesel and conventional electricity. It offers a pathway to decarbonise agriculture, lower irrigation costs and enhance farmers energy security. However, its near-zero marginal pumping cost can encourage greater groundwater extraction, particularly in water-stressed regions, creating a critical energy–water trade-off in India.
Body
Why solar irrigation may deepen groundwater stress?
Near-zero pumping cost
Solar pumps eliminate recurring diesel/electricity costs, encouraging farmers to pump beyond crop requirements, particularly in water-stressed regions.
Weak price–water linkage:
Unmetered solar power reduces the immediate economic cost of pumping, weakening incentives for water conservation.
Around 75% of India’s irrigation pumps are electric, with historically subsidised power contributing to groundwater over-abstraction.
Location-specific groundwater risk
Solar irrigation does not inherently cause depletion, its impact depends on aquifer conditions and pumping incentives.
International Water Management Institute-Solar Irrigation for Agricultural Resilience (IWMI–SoLAR) findings show irrigation-water use of 1,753–1,961 mm in Anand versus 450–546 mm in Botad, highlighting the need for context-specific solarisation.
PM-KUSUM: Clean-energy transition without compromising groundwater
Strengthen De-dieselise irrigation
Component-B (Standalone solar agricultural pumps) solar pumps can replace diesel-based irrigation, reducing fossil-fuel consumption, emissions and farmers energy costs.
By March 2026, 10+ lakh standalone pumps had been installed with potential savings of ₹5,000–₹6,500/acre annually.
Promote water-efficient irrigation
Combines solarisation with drip/sprinkler systems so that cheaper energy improves irrigation efficiency rather than increasing water extraction.
PM-KUSUM provisions link solarisation in groundwater-stressed areas with micro-irrigation.
Aquifer-sensitive deployment
Solar pumps should be deployed according to aquifer status and water availability, avoiding indiscriminate expansion in stressed regions.
PM-KUSUM restricts new solar pumps in CGWB notified dark zones, recognising the groundwater–energy trade-off.
Convert farmers from consumers to “prosumers”
Component-C enables farmers to sell surplus solar power to DISCOMs, transforming them from Annadata into “Urjadaata” and creating an incentive to avoid unnecessary pumping
Under PM-KUSUM, DISCOMs can procure surplus solar power from farmers at pre-determined tariffs, allowing farmers to earn an additional income.
Enhances feeder-level solarisation
Component-C(Solarisation of grid-connected agricultural pumps) Feeder-Level Solarisation (FLS)can provide reliable daytime irrigation power while allowing agricultural electricity supply to be managed at feeder level.
Limitations
Slow uptake of Components A & C-FLS
Slow implementation of Components A and C-FLS limits the scheme ability to scale decentralised renewable generation and feeder-level solarisation.
By December 2025, only about 7% of Component-A and 34% of Component-C-FLS targets had been achieved.
Affordability and inclusion barriers
Relatively high initial cost of solar pumps and financing constraints canlimit adoption among small and marginal farmers despite subsidies.
Energy–Water mismatch
Solarisation may incentivise higher-capacity pumping despite declining water tables.
In groundwater-stressed Karnataka, farmers sought 10-HP solar pumps under PM-KUSUM, highlighting the risk of deepening groundwater extraction
Way Forward
Adopting aquifer-based solarisation
Linking PM-KUSUM with groundwater status, crop-water requirements, pump sizing and IoT-based monitoring on the lines of Rajasthan IoT-based virtual feeder segregation model.
Aligning solarisation with crop diversification
Integrating PM-KUSUM incentives with MSP/procurement support for millets, pulses and oilseeds in water-stressed regions, drawing from Telangana crop-diversification initiatives.
Promoting “sell solar, save water” model
Expanding grid-connected pumps and surplus-power procurement to incentivise solar generation over excessive pumping, building on Gujarat Suryashakti Kisan Yojana (SKY).
Promoting inclusive and future-ready solar irrigation
Integrating micro-irrigation, FPO/community models and blended finance with FAO Solar-Powered Irrigation Systems (SPIS) approach, while leveraging the proposed 10-GW Agri-PV component under PM-KUSUM 2.0.
Conclusion
India transition towards solar-powered agriculture offers an opportunity to redefine the energy–water relationship. The future should be guided by the principle of “clean energy, efficient water use and resilient livelihoods.” If PM-KUSUM evolves within this framework, India can pursue its Net-Zero 2070 pathway while ensuring that groundwater remains a secure natural capital for generations to come.