CURRENT AFFAIRS | 22 JUNE 2026
What if a single acre of farmland could grow crops and generate solar power at the same time? Economist Ashok Gulati argues India’s energy security can run through its farms via agri-photovoltaics.
What Happened
In an editorial, agricultural economist Ashok Gulati and Subhodeep Basu made the case for agri-photovoltaics (Agri-PV) — mounting solar panels about 3.5 metres high so crops can grow beneath while electricity is sold to discoms as a “third crop.” India’s renewable energy capacity stood at roughly 274 GW as of March 2026, with solar alone crossing 150 GW. ICRIER, backed by Kotak Mahindra Bank’s CSR, ran a 600 kW Agri-PV pilot in Rajasthan.
The flagship scheme is PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan) under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), with Component A (grid-connected solar up to 2 MW on farmland), Component B (standalone solar pumps) and Component C (solarisation of grid-connected farm pumps). Power subsidy to agriculture is about Rs 1.4 lakh crore — nearly 85% of total tariff subsidy — and a CAG report pegs the average cost of supplying electricity at Rs 8.5/kWh.
☀️ Policy Framework
Agri-PV co-locates power and crops on one plot; PM-KUSUM under MNRE is the delivery vehicle. It advances the National Solar Mission, India’s Net Zero by 2070 pledge and Viksit Bharat 2047. Constitutionally, it aligns with DPSP Article 48A (protection and improvement of the environment).
🎯 Why This Matters for CLAT
Schemes like PM-KUSUM, renewable-energy targets and Article 48A link GK to Constitutional Directive Principles — a favourite cross-over theme in CLAT’s static-plus-current passages.
📌 Key Facts
| Scheme | PM-KUSUM under MNRE |
| RE capacity | ~274 GW (March 2026) |
| Solar capacity | Crossed 150 GW |
| Panel height | ~3.5 m for cultivation below |
| Farm power subsidy | ~Rs 1.4 lakh cr (~85% of total) |
| Avg supply cost | Rs 8.5/kWh (CAG) |
🧠 Memory Hook
“KUSUM = Kisan + Sun + Money.” PM-KUSUM lets farmers harvest a third crop of solar electricity from their own land.
📝 Test yourself — take the 10-question quiz below:
Practice Quiz — 10 CLAT-Style Questions
Click an option to reveal the answer and explanation.
