RAS question
How many solar pumps are operational in Rajasthan under KUSUM scheme across 41 districts?
Correct answer: (C) 1.36 lakh.
Rajasthan has 1.36 lakh operational solar pumps under the KUSUM scheme across 41 districts.
Explanation
Rajasthan's operational KUSUM solar-pump count is 1.36 lakh across 41 districts. The Times of India reports this figure while explaining the scheme's Rajasthan context: KUSUM is being used to solarise agriculture connections, with pumps powered by decentralised solar plants. That matters because the question asks for pumps actually operational, not sanctioned capacity, savings, or district coverage alone. These operational pumps are powered by 1,034 solar plants, confirming that the 1.36 lakh figure refers to running field installations rather than a target number. Therefore, among the options, 1.36 lakh is the only figure that matches the reported operational count across 41 districts.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) 2.50 lakh is not Rajasthan's operational KUSUM solar-pump count across 41 districts.
- (B) 78,000 understates the reported operational count; The Times of India gives the figure as 1.36 lakh.
- (D) 45,000 is far below the reported operational count and is not tied to KUSUM pumps operational across 41 districts.
Concept
This tests Rajasthan economy schemes, especially how renewable-energy schemes are implemented in agriculture. RAS repeats such figures because schemes like KUSUM connect policy design with farmer power supply, public finance and district-level implementation.