PM-KUSUM Karnataka: Solar Pump Subsidy, Eligibility, How to Apply

Three components, three different deals

Component	What it is	Who it suits	Who runs it in Karnataka
A	Solar plant of 500 kW to 2 MW on farm land, selling all power to the ESCOM under a long-term agreement	Farmers, groups, FPOs or panchayats with spare land near a substation	ESCOMs through tenders
B	Standalone (off-grid) solar pump on your own well or borewell	Farms without a grid pump connection, especially far from the line	KREDL
C	Solarising grid-connected pumps, either individually or a whole agricultural feeder	Farmers who already have an IP set connection	ESCOMs (feeder-level), with KREDL in some areas

The central guideline caps pumps under Components B and C at 7.5 HP for central assistance. KREDL's recent Karnataka orders cover 3, 5, 7.5 and 10 HP systems, so ask how much support applies to the size you want.

30% + 50%central + state share under Component B in Karnataka

20%farmer's share of the benchmark cost

7.5 HPlimit for central support under the national guideline

1912ESCOM helpline

Component A: renting or using your land for a solar plant

Component A is for farmers with spare land rather than a pump problem. A solar plant of 500 kW to 2 MW is set up on barren or fallow land, usually within a few kilometres of a 33/11 kV substation, and the power is sold to the ESCOM under a long-term agreement at a tariff discovered through a tender. The ESCOM gets a central incentive for buying the power; the farmer or developer gets the sale revenue.

Two ways in: invest yourself (with a bank loan) and sell power, or lease your land to a developer for an annual rent.
Land: about 4 acres per MW, with clear title and road access.
Reality check: nationally, Component A has moved slowly, and financing for individual farmers is hard. In Karnataka, most of the large-scale activity has gone into feeder-level solarisation under Component C (below), where land near substations is also leased.

Before you sign any lease: confirm the developer has an award letter or PPA from the ESCOM, check the period (it normally matches the plant life of 25 years), the rent escalation, who pays land tax, who restores the land at the end, and what happens if the developer sells the project. Get the RTC entries and mutation status checked by a lawyer.

Component B: the standalone solar pump

This is the part most farmers ask about. The pump runs directly on solar during the day, with no grid connection, no electricity bill and no dependence on the feeder schedule.

Funding in Karnataka: 30% central (MNRE), 50% state, 20% farmer. The state share was raised to 50% for all categories by a government order dated 7 October 2023, and reported again in a December 2025 call for applications in Mysuru.
Scale: approval for 40,000 solar pump sets under Component B has been reported since the 2024-25 state budget. In January 2026 KREDL awarded at least one large supply order (3,263 off-grid DC pumps to Oswal Pumps, ₹119.92 crore).
Who it is aimed at: the Energy Minister said in 2025 that pump sets located more than 500 metres from the power line would be covered with solar pumps under KUSUM-B instead of extending the grid. In practice this scheme is for farms without an existing ESCOM pump connection on that survey number.
How you apply: the December 2025 notice asked farmers to register online at souramitra.com, choose an empanelled vendor (agency), and pay the 20% share. Helplines given then: KREDL 080-22202100 / 8095132100.

Component B application, step by step

1Check that a district window is open
Watch KREDL notices and ask at your ESCOM subdivision. Windows open and close.
2Register on the state portal with Aadhaar-linked mobile
Survey number, well/borewell details, pump size, bank account.
3Site survey by the agency or KREDL
Location, water source and depth are checked and photographed.
?Application found feasible?
Yes Pay the 20% farmer share as directedNo Correct the reason given and re-apply
5Vendor supplies and installs the pump with remote monitoring
✓Inspection, commissioning and warranty handover

No legitimate fee for a "priority slot"

Fake portals and agents have targeted farmers before. Pay your share only as directed after selection, and only into the account named in the official intimation. Never share your OTP with anyone who calls you.

Documents and eligibility

Checklist0 / 8 done

Aadhaar card, with the mobile number linked to it
Latest RTC (pahani) for the survey number, preferably from Bhoomi and recent
Bank passbook or cancelled cheque of an Aadhaar-seeded account in the farmer's name
Proof of water source: borewell or open well details
Pump details: proposed HP, depth of water, total head
Caste certificate if applying in a reserved category
Tenant farmers: registered agreement and the land owner's consent
Joint holding: consent of all khatedars on the RTC

The most common hold-up we see is a name mismatch: the name on the RTC, Aadhaar and bank account must match, including the father's name and spelling. Fix the mutation or Aadhaar first. Second most common: the survey number already has an ESCOM pump connection, which normally rules out Component B.

Component C and feeder-level solarisation

For farmers who already have an IP set connection, Karnataka has mostly chosen feeder-level solarisation. Instead of fitting panels at every pump, a solar plant of a few MW is set up near an 11 kV substation and feeds the agricultural feeders. The farmer installs nothing, pays nothing extra, and the aim is reliable daytime supply.

In July 2025 the state reported 200 MW commissioned under Component C, with 545 MW more at 93 locations, towards a 2,400 MW feeder solarisation target.
BESCOM alone said it would add about 1,051 MW under KUSUM-C by March 2026. HESCOM tendered 95 MW in its area.
The 2026-27 state budget announced a further feeder-level programme, reported as Mukhya Mantri Saura Krishi Yojane, targeting about 3 GW at KPTCL substations.
Land: about 4 acres per MW. Farmers who lease land for these plants were promised at least ₹25,000 per acre per year (as reported in July 2025). Read any lease carefully: it runs for the life of the plant.

KERC's 25 August 2026 tariff order says benchmark tariffs for feeder-level solarisation under KUSUM-C will continue to be set through tenders.

Scheme period: what is changing in 2026

The national PM-KUSUM scheme was sanctioned until 31 March 2026. The Centre has extended completion to 31 March 2027 for projects whose agreements or letters of award were issued by 31 December 2025, and has said committed liabilities may move into a proposed PM-KUSUM 2.0, which was still under discussion at the time of writing. Karnataka's KREDL pump orders of early 2026 are being executed under the existing approval.

What this means for you: if you were selected and have paid, follow up with KREDL for installation. If you have not applied, check whether a new window is open before paying any agent. Do not trust a portal that is not linked from the KREDL or MNRE website.

Field notes: making a solar pump work

Size to the water, not the land. The pump's head and discharge must match your borewell depth and yield. A 7.5 HP pump on a weak borewell will run dry by noon.
Daytime only. A standalone solar pump gives most water between about 9 am and 4 pm. Plan drip or sprinkler irrigation, or a sump, around that.
Earthing and lightning protection. Panels on an open field are exposed. Insist on a proper earth pit and lightning arrester; see our earthing checklist.
Theft and cleaning. Fence the array and wash panels with clean water in the dry season.
Grid pump users should read our IP set electricity guide for regularisation and supply hours.

Check the official source

Solar rules in Karnataka changed in August 2026 and tariffs are revised every control period. This article explains how things work in practice. Before you sign or pay, confirm the current rule on pmsuryaghar.gov.in, your ESCOM's DSPV / SRTPV portal, the KERC website, or your subdivision office. The ESCOM helpline is 1912.

If your solar pump stops or gives less water

Solar pumps have few moving parts, and most complaints in the first years come down to a handful of causes. Check them in this order before you call the vendor.

Sun and shade. Output falls sharply in cloud, early morning and late afternoon, and a tree branch or a film of dust across the panels cuts it further. Clean the panels and clear shade first.
The controller display. The pump controller shows a status or fault: dry run, over-voltage, overload or a sensor fault. Note it and take a photo; the vendor's helpline will ask for it.
Water level. If the controller shows dry run every afternoon, the borewell cannot keep up with the pump. Ask the vendor about lowering the pump or reducing its speed. Do not bypass the dry-run protection.
Cables and earth. Rats, tractors and field fires damage DC cables. Look for cut insulation and loose connections at the junction box, and make sure the earth connection is intact.
After a storm. If the pump died after lightning, the surge protection device or the controller is the usual casualty. Report it quickly with photos and the date of the storm.

The vendor that installed the pump under the scheme is responsible for maintenance for the period in its contract. Register every complaint with the vendor in writing or on its helpline, keep the complaint number, and take it to KREDL if repairs are delayed. A standalone pump controller is built for the motor alone, so if you also need power for a house on the farm, see our farmhouse connection guide. Our lightning protection guide explains arresters and surge devices in open fields, and the monsoon safety checklist covers cables and pump houses in the rains.

Questions

How much subsidy do farmers get under PM-KUSUM in Karnataka?

Under Component B, the Centre pays 30% and Karnataka pays 50% of the benchmark cost, so the farmer pays 20%. The state share was raised to 50% by a government order dated 7 October 2023.

Where do I apply for a KUSUM-B solar pump in Karnataka?

KREDL is the implementing agency. In the December 2025 window farmers were asked to register at souramitra.com, choose an empanelled vendor and pay the 20% share. Check KREDL's website or your ESCOM office for the current window.

Can I get a KUSUM-B solar pump if I already have an IP set connection?

Generally no. Component B is for standalone pumps where there is no grid pump connection. Farmers with an IP set benefit through Component C, mainly feeder-level solarisation in Karnataka.

What is feeder-level solarisation?

A solar plant of a few MW is set up near a substation and supplies the agricultural feeder during the day. Farmers on that feeder get solar-backed daytime power without installing anything on their farm.

Is PM-KUSUM still open after March 2026?

The Centre extended completion to March 2027 for projects awarded by 31 December 2025, and a PM-KUSUM 2.0 was under discussion in 2026. Check with KREDL whether a new application window is open.

What documents are needed for PM-KUSUM in Karnataka?

Aadhaar with linked mobile, recent RTC, Aadhaar-seeded bank account details, water source details, and for tenants a registered agreement with the owner's consent. Names must match across all documents.

Sources

Rules and figures in this article were checked against these sources on 30 Sep 2026. Schemes and tariffs change, so confirm with the official office before you act.

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Written by the Basavalalith Electricals engineering teamLicensed electrical contractors working on ESCOM, KPTCL and CEIG projects across Karnataka, from Bengaluru and Mysuru to Mangaluru, Hubballi and Kalaburagi.

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PM-KUSUM in Karnataka: solar pump subsidy, eligibility, Components A, B, C and how to apply