SchemesTuesday, 18 August 2026·The Hindu - National
Karnataka CM-SKY: BESCOM tenders for 500 MW feeder-level solarisation by December 2026
BESCOM has invited tenders under the Mukya Mantri Saura Shakti Yojana to develop 500 MW of solar capacity by December 2026.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In March 2026, Karnataka announced the Mukya Mantri Saura Shakti Yojana (CM-SKY), and BESCOM later invited tenders to build 500 MW of solar capacity by December 2026 within its jurisdiction.
Key specifics
- CM-SKY is designed on the lines of PM-KUSUM and targets solarisation of existing grid-connected agricultural pumpsets.
- BESCOM has been allocated 500 MW, while the Energy Department’s overall target is 1,000 MW across five Escoms.
- Private developers can lease land from farmers for 28 years, and the base price fixed by BESCOM is ₹25,000 per acre per year.
- BESCOM plans to buy power at ₹3.19 per unit, compared with ₹2.89 per unit under PM-KUSUM C.
- The project is expected to attract an investment of ₹10,500 crore, with 3 to 4 acres needed for 1 MW of solar power.
Exam lens
Question type: scheme match-the-following and budget-based MCQ. Key facts: CM-SKY, March 2026, 500 MW for BESCOM, ₹25,000 per acre, ₹3.19 per unit, 28-year lease. TNPSC one-liner: identify the state scheme that mirrors PM-KUSUM and aims at daytime power for farmers.