PM-KUSUM was designed to address three simultaneous goals — farmer income, energy transition, and diesel displacement. Evaluate how far the scheme has succeeded across its three components and identify the structural reforms needed to realise its untapped potential.

Launched in 2019, PM-KUSUM aims to install over 34 GW of decentralised solar capacity by 2026, linking agricultural reforms with India's clean energy transition.

Therefore, it can be seen that PM-KUSUM has performed best in diesel displacement, moderately in promoting the energy transition, and only partially in enhancing farmer incomes, highlighting the need for implementation and institutional reforms rather than major policy redesign. Structural reforms needed

• Promote Feeder Level Solarisation (FLS) to improve grid efficiency and reduce transmission losses.
• Expand Individual Pump Solarisation (IPS) with higher support for small and marginal farmers.
• Link solar pumps with micro-irrigation under PMKSY to prevent groundwater depletion.
• Improve DISCOM viability through power sector reforms and timely payment mechanisms.
• Simplify approvals through a single-window digital platform.
• Integrate PM-KUSUM with PM Surya Ghar, National Smart Grid Mission and Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.
• Introduce AI-enabled monitoring and remote maintenance of solar pumps.

Therefore, to realise PM-KUSUM's full potential requires converging agricultural reforms, power sector reforms and renewable energy expansion.