UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PM-KUSUM 2.0 likely to be announced soon: Pralhad

Q1. Under Component-A of PM-KUSUM, the electricity generated by the decentralised solar plants set up on farmers' land is purchased by which entity, and at tariffs determined by whom?

  • A. The Solar Energy Corporation of India, at tariffs determined by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission
  • B. The State Implementing Agencies, at benchmark tariffs notified by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
  • C. The distribution companies (DISCOMs), at tariffs determined by the respective State Electricity Regulatory Commissions
  • D. The National Thermal Power Corporation, at tariffs determined by the Central Electricity Authority

Q2. Which one of the following correctly identifies the component of PM-KUSUM carrying the largest pump-based physical target, along with that target?

  • A. Component-A — 10,000 MW of decentralised ground-mounted grid-connected plants of up to 2 MW each
  • B. Component-B — installation of 20 lakh standalone solar-powered agriculture pumps
  • C. Component-C — solarisation of 20 lakh existing grid-connected agriculture pumps
  • D. Component-C — solarisation of 15 lakh existing grid-connected agriculture pumps

Q3. Which one of the following correctly describes the institutional arrangement for implementing PM-KUSUM?

  • A. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is the nodal ministry, with MNRE providing technical support through State Implementing Agencies
  • B. The Ministry of Power is the nodal ministry, with implementation routed through DISCOM-level State Implementing Agencies
  • C. MNRE is the nodal ministry, with NABARD designated as the single national implementing agency for all three components
  • D. MNRE is the nodal ministry, with State Implementing Agencies executing the scheme and reporting State-wise progress

Q4. With reference to PM-KUSUM, consider the following statements: 1. It was launched in 2019 by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. 2. Under Component-B, central financial assistance is 30 per cent of the benchmark cost for most States, and 50 per cent for North-Eastern States, hill States/UTs and Island UTs. 3. Its three components together target a solar capacity addition of 30.8 GW, with total central financial support of ₹34,422 crore. 4. Under Component-B in general States, the farmer contributes 40 per cent of the cost while the State government contributes 10 per cent. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It was launched in 2019 by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
  2. Under Component-B, central financial assistance is 30 per cent of the benchmark cost for most States, and 50 per cent for North-Eastern States, hill States/UTs and Island UTs.
  3. Its three components together target a solar capacity addition of 30.8 GW, with total central financial support of ₹34,422 crore.
  4. Under Component-B in general States, the farmer contributes 40 per cent of the cost while the State government contributes 10 per cent.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q5. With reference to the proposed second phase of PM-KUSUM ("PM-KUSUM 2.0"), consider the following statements: 1. It is proposed to carry a dedicated Agri-PV component of about 10 GW. 2. Its reported total outlay of about ₹50,000 crore exceeds the ₹34,422 crore central financial support of the first phase. 3. The Union Budget 2026-27 allocation for PM-KUSUM stands at about ₹5,000 crore. 4. Under the proposed Agri-PV component, crop cultivation on the selected land is to be discontinued for the duration of the solar lease. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It is proposed to carry a dedicated Agri-PV component of about 10 GW.
  2. Its reported total outlay of about ₹50,000 crore exceeds the ₹34,422 crore central financial support of the first phase.
  3. The Union Budget 2026-27 allocation for PM-KUSUM stands at about ₹5,000 crore.
  4. Under the proposed Agri-PV component, crop cultivation on the selected land is to be discontinued for the duration of the solar lease.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q6. As indicated by the Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy in 2026, what is the principal new pillar proposed for the second phase of PM-KUSUM?

  • A. A dedicated rooftop solar component of about 10 GW for farm households, with 300 free units of electricity a month
  • B. A dedicated component for 10 lakh additional standalone solar irrigation pumps in rain-fed districts
  • C. A dedicated 10 GW floating solar component on irrigation reservoirs and village farm ponds
  • D. A dedicated component of about 10 GW co-locating solar panels with crop cultivation on the same land

Q7. Which one of the following statements about India's agrivoltaic potential, as stated by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in 2026, is correct?

  • A. It is estimated at exactly 3,000 GW, the entire potential lying in the desert States of the country
  • B. It has been estimated as a range whose upper end approaches nearly 14,000 GW
  • C. It is expected to raise net farm income to at least ₹5 lakh per acre a year in all cropping systems
  • D. It is limited exclusively to the 10 GW proposed under the next phase of PM-KUSUM

Q8. The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, which provides the overarching national policy framework within which India's solar deployment including farm-land solar is pursued, was launched in which year and under which framework?

  • A. 2008, under the National Action Plan on Climate Change
  • B. 2015, under India's Intended Nationally Determined Contribution
  • C. 2010, under the National Action Plan on Climate Change
  • D. 2010, under the Electricity Act, 2003, as administered by the Ministry of Power

Q9. What is the approximate allocation for PM-KUSUM in the Union Budget 2026-27?

  • A. ₹2,600 crore
  • B. ₹34,422 crore
  • C. ₹22,000 crore
  • D. ₹5,000 crore

Q10. Which one of the following is the largest scheme-wise allocation under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in the Union Budget 2026-27, along with its approximate size?

  • A. PM-KUSUM — about ₹50,000 crore
  • B. PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana — about ₹22,000 crore
  • C. PM-KUSUM — about ₹5,000 crore
  • D. PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana — about ₹7,106 crore

Q11. In the context of PM-KUSUM, the description of the farmer as an 'urjadata' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A farmer who receives free electricity for irrigation up to a fixed number of units every month under the scheme
  • B. A village-level agency appointed to maintain solar pumps and collect user charges from participating farmers
  • C. A farmer who, besides growing crops, generates solar power and supplies the surplus to the grid for a tariff
  • D. A designated distribution company officer responsible for the energy audit of solarised agricultural feeders

Q12. Which one of the following pairs of a scheme and the Union ministry implementing it is correctly matched?

  • A. PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana — Ministry of Power
  • B. Saubhagya (Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana) — Ministry of Power
  • C. PM-KUSUM — Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
  • D. Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission — Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change