How much subsidy is there on a solar pump under PM-KUSUM?

Under Component B, the central government has paid 30% of the benchmark cost and the state is expected to add at least 30%, so the farmer's share has been around 40% or less. Banks can finance part of the farmer's share. The exact split, the HP cap and the current benchmark cost change by year and by state, so check the current terms with GEDA or the state agriculture department before you plan.

What HP solar pump do I need?

It depends on how deep the water is and how much water you need each day. As a rough guide, open wells and shallow borewells up to about 30 metres often manage with 3 HP. Borewells of 50 to 100 metres usually need 5 to 7.5 HP. Ask the supplier for the pump's curve, which shows the litres per day at your depth, and match that to your crop.

AC or DC solar pump, which is better?

DC pumps are more efficient and start at lower sunlight, so they give more water per panel in the morning and evening. AC pumps cost a little less, and a failed AC motor is easier to get repaired in a village. For a new installation of 3 to 5 HP, DC is usually the better buy. For a borewell that already has a good AC submersible, an AC solar controller can reuse it.

Can a solar pump run at night?

Not directly. A standalone solar pump runs only when the sun is up, strongest between about 10 am and 4 pm. Farmers store water in a tank or farm pond during the day and irrigate from it. Batteries are rarely worth it for pumps because of their cost.

Can I sell extra power from my solar pump to DGVCL?

Not from a standalone off-grid pump under Component B, because it is not connected to the grid. Component C covers solarising a grid-connected agricultural pump, where surplus can be sold to the discom. Whether Component C is open for your feeder in Bharuch district, and at what rate, is something to confirm with DGVCL.

Solar Pump in Bharuch 2026, PM-KUSUM Subsidy and Choosing the HP

A solar water pump runs a farm borewell on panels instead of diesel or grid power. For farms in Bharuch district, where many villages still get agricultural power only in fixed slots, it means water in the daytime without waiting for the supply. The PM-KUSUM scheme pays a large share of the cost. This post covers how the scheme works, how to size the pump, and what to check before you apply.

PM-KUSUM in short

PM-KUSUM is the central scheme for solar on farms. It has three parts.

Component	What it covers	Who it suits
A	Small solar plants of 0.5 to 2 MW on farmland, selling power to the discom	Farmers with spare land who want rent or income
B	Standalone, off-grid solar pumps	Farms without a grid pump connection, or tired of diesel
C	Solarising an existing grid-connected pump, with surplus sold to the discom	Farms that already have an agricultural connection

Most Bharuch farmers asking about a solar pump are looking at Component B. Under B, the central government has paid 30% of a benchmark cost and the state at least another 30%, so the farmer’s share has been about 40% or less, part of which a bank can finance. The HP cap for individual farmers has been 7.5 HP. These figures are set by year and by state, so treat them as a guide and confirm the current terms before you apply.

Sizing the pump from your borewell

Two numbers decide the pump. The first is total head, which is roughly how far the water has to be lifted, from the water level in the well up to the outlet, plus a little for pipe friction. The second is how many litres a day your crop needs in the driest month.

Water depth, approx.	Pump size usually needed
Open well or up to 30 m	2 to 3 HP
30 to 60 m	3 to 5 HP
60 to 100 m	5 to 7.5 HP

This table is only a starting point. Ask the supplier for the pump curve, which shows the litres per day the pump gives at your head. A 5 HP pump that gives plenty of water at 40 m can give very little at 90 m. The panel array is sized to the pump, usually around 1 kWp of panels per HP, and the supplier should give you that figure in writing.

Water levels in parts of Bharuch district drop sharply before the monsoon. Size for the water level in May, not in September, or the pump will struggle in the weeks you need it most.

AC or DC

A DC pump runs straight from the panels through a controller. It is more efficient and starts earlier in the morning, so it gives more water per panel. An AC pump uses a controller that turns panel power into AC for a normal motor. It costs a little less, and a burnt AC motor is easier to rewind locally.

For a new 3 to 5 HP installation, DC is usually the better choice. If you already have a good AC submersible in the borewell, an AC controller can let you reuse it.

What a day looks like

A solar pump works from about 9 am to 5 pm, with most of its water between 10 am and 4 pm. On a cloudy monsoon day it gives much less. Most farms pump into a tank or farm pond during the day and irrigate from there, including in the evening. Drip irrigation stretches the water much further, and it pairs well with a solar pump because both run steadily at low pressure.

Before you apply

Keep these ready. The 7/12 land record in your name, Aadhaar, bank passbook, and details of the borewell, meaning depth, diameter and current water level. Applications under PM-KUSUM in Gujarat have gone through the state’s official portal and designated agencies, and suppliers must be empanelled for the scheme.

Be careful with anyone who asks for money to “register” you for the subsidy, or who promises a pump for a tiny token payment. The central ministry has warned about fake PM-KUSUM websites. Use only the official portal linked from the ministry or state agency sites.

Where we fit

We install rooftop and ground-mounted solar across Bharuch district, and we can survey a borewell and give you a written sizing, with the head, the pump curve and the panel count. If you want to go the PM-KUSUM route, we will tell you honestly whether we are empanelled for the current round. For farms with spare land and a larger plan, the ground-mounted solar page covers bigger systems.