[New Report] Rajasthan’s solar shift: powering agriculture and rural communities

The report underscores the Alliance’s catalytic role in enabling this transition — supporting not just infrastructure deployment but also system-level innovation. One such contribution is the Contract Monitoring System (CMS), developed by GEAPP to bring accountability, transparency, and real-time decision-making to solar energy implementation. CMS allows officials to proactively track progress, address setbacks, and improve service delivery across solar installations.

Rajasthan’s experience illustrates the wider potential of clean energy — beyond electrification — to drive community-level change. Solar power is enabling timely irrigation, reducing diesel dependence, improving household well-being, and fostering rural entrepreneurship. As of March 2025 (PM-KUSUM portal data), the state has seen:

• 243 solar plants (463 MW) installed
• 177,000 farmers reached
• 667,000 households connected
• 3.34 million lives impacted
• 189,000 jobs improved
• $283 million mobilized in funding ($223M private, $60M public)

Rajasthan’s progress is particularly significant in the context of its longstanding challenges with irregular electricity supply and high fossil fuel dependency in agriculture. In recent years:

• 131,000 solar-powered irrigation pumps have been installed
• 20,000 farmers in regions like Kotputli–Behror have adopted solar irrigation systems
• 225 new solar connections are being added daily
• The state has achieved a 60% reduction in its agricultural power subsidy burden
• Solar and wind energy now match fossil fuel-based generation in the energy mix

The impact on households and individual livelihoods is also noteworthy:

• 94% of users report fewer power cuts
• 65% report a reduction in electricity bills
• 57% observed higher crop yields
• 81% of households reported longer study hours for children
• 82% of women reported saving time on household chores due to greater access to electrical appliances
• 2–5 local workers are regularly employed at each solar plant, supporting local job creation.

The report concludes that Rajasthan offers a scalable model for clean energy-led rural development. With continued collaboration among governments, funders, and civil society, such approaches can be replicated and adapted across other states—strengthening digital systems, investing in community-led solutions, and accelerating India’s broader transition toward renewable energy and climate-resilient agriculture.

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