Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called on Union Minister Pralhad Joshi at his residence in New Delhi on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, for a goodwill meeting that covered key central renewable energy schemes. The discussions centred on the PM-KUSUM scheme and the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, with Fadnavis announcing that Maharashtra has been allocated 51 per cent of the total national funds disbursed under PM-KUSUM.

Context

Fadnavis posted on X, writing in Hindi: 'पीएम-कुसुम योजना के अंतर्गत देश में उपलब्ध कराए गए कुल निधि का सर्वाधिक 51% हिस्सा महाराष्ट्र को प्रदान कराने के लिए मा. केंद्रीय मंत्री प्रल्हाद जोशी जी इनका हार्दिक आभार' — translating to: 'Heartfelt gratitude to Union Minister Pralhad Joshi Ji for ensuring that Maharashtra receives the highest share — 51 per cent — of the total funds made available under the PM-KUSUM scheme in the country.' The Chief Minister described the broader meeting as involving 'positive and meaningful discussions' on multiple important subjects.

The visit to Joshi's New Delhi residence is characterised by Fadnavis as a sadichha bhent — a goodwill call — a standard format for centre-state political coordination between allied BJP leaders at the national and state level.

Policy Backdrop

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme was launched by the central government in 2019 to solarise agricultural pump sets and provide farmers an additional income stream by selling surplus solar power to the grid. The scheme targets millions of farm pump connections across India, with states required to submit implementation plans and match central allocations.

The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana was announced in the Union Budget 2024-25 and aims to install rooftop solar panels on one crore households, providing up to 300 units of free electricity per month. Maharashtra, with one of India's largest agrarian populations and ambitious state-level renewable energy targets, has been an active participant in both schemes.

Stakeholders and Impact

Farmers across Maharashtra stand to be the most direct beneficiaries of the PM-KUSUM allocation, gaining access to solar-powered irrigation pumps that reduce dependence on the grid and lower input costs. The 51 per cent share of national funds — as stated by Fadnavis — would represent a significant concentration of central resources in a single state, reflecting Maharashtra's scale of agricultural activity and its push for renewable infrastructure.

Rural households in the state are also targeted under PM Surya Ghar, which was discussed at the meeting. Successful implementation of both schemes would contribute to Maharashtra's broader goal of expanding clean energy access and reducing electricity subsidies over the medium term.

What's Next

The meeting is expected to be followed by closer coordination on fund disbursement timelines and district-level installation targets under PM-KUSUM across Maharashtra's farming belts. Progress on household registrations under PM Surya Ghar will be a parallel metric to watch, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas. With both schemes tied to central budget cycles and state-level execution capacity, the pace of on-ground implementation in Maharashtra will be the key indicator of whether Tuesday's discussions translate into measurable outcomes for farmers and households.