- Component B = new off-grid standalone solar pumps for farmers with no grid link.
- Component C = solarising existing grid-connected pumps — C1 per pump, C2 per feeder.
- Component B is logistics-heavy across many small farms; C2 is grid-scale and needs land and DISCOM work.
- Margins depend on the state tender and benchmark cost — run a real cost sheet per bid.
- Subsidy splits, USPC need and benchmark costs are state-variable estimates — verify against MNRE and the state order.
PM-KUSUM Component B and Component C both put solar on a farmer's pump, but they solve different problems. Component B is for farms with no electricity at all. Component C is for farms already on the grid. That one difference changes the scope, the bidding, and the risk for an EPC.
The short answer
Bid Component B if your strength is reaching scattered rural sites and installing many new standalone pumps. Bid Component C if you can handle retrofits on existing pumps (C1) or build grid-scale feeder solarisation (C2). Component B is a logistics business; Component C2 is closer to a small power-plant business.
Neither is "better" on its own. The right pick depends on your crews, your equipment supply, and which tender is actually live in your state right now.
What Component B and Component C are
Both components are delivered through state tenders run by the state nodal agency (SNA), not as a walk-in subsidy. Here is what each one covers.
Component B: standalone solar pumps
Component B installs new off-grid solar water pumps for farmers who have no grid connection. The pump runs only on solar, with no DISCOM link, so there is no surplus export. Pumps are sized by horsepower — common sizes are 3, 5, 7.5 and 10 HP — and use a universal solar pump controller (USPC). See the Component B EPC guide for the full path.
Component C: solarising existing pumps
Component C solarises pumps that are already grid-connected. It has two flavours. C1 solarises individual pumps, one farmer at a time. C2 solarises at the feeder level — a larger solar plant powers a whole agricultural feeder. Because the pump stays grid-connected, surplus power can be exported in some states. The Component C guide covers both.
Head-to-head matrix
Read each row across to see how Component B, Component C1 and Component C2 differ on the factors that decide a bid.
Caption: Decision matrix, SuryaHub. Source: framing from MNRE PM-KUSUM guidelines and SECI model documents. Subsidy splits, surplus-export rules and benchmark costs are state-variable estimates — verify against the live state tender and the latest MNRE order.
Bid economics compared
The money works differently in each component, so a single "which pays more" answer is misleading. Run a cost sheet for the specific tender — our bid economics guide shows the structure.
Component B economics
Component B revenue is the benchmark cost per pump, funded as central assistance plus state share plus farmer share. Your margin lives in your delivery cost across many scattered farms. Logistics, transport and install efficiency decide whether the job makes money.
Component C economics
Component C1 is also per-site, but you are retrofitting an existing pump, so site work and metering coordination drive the cost. Component C2 is a larger build with land, grid tie-in and DISCOM coordination — closer to a Component A plant in how you model it. Surplus export, where allowed, adds an income line.
Component C: C1 vs C2 in detail
Inside Component C, C1 and C2 are almost two different businesses, so treat them separately when you plan.
- C1 (individual): many small jobs, retrofit on each farmer's pump, similar operational rhythm to Component B but on grid-connected sites.
- C2 (feeder): fewer, larger projects; you solarise a whole agricultural feeder, which needs land, a grid connection and close DISCOM coordination.
If your team can run a 0.5–2 MW plant, C2 may suit you. If your strength is volume across small sites, C1 (or Component B) fits better.
Does it need a universal solar pump controller?
Whether the job needs a universal solar pump controller (USPC) depends on the design and the state order. Standalone Component B pumps use a USPC by specification. Grid-connected Component C solarisation may use different equipment, because the pump stays linked to the grid.
Do not assume. Confirm the USPC requirement against the current MNRE technical specification and your state tender before you finalise your bill of materials.
Risk and execution
The risks sit in different places, and they should shape which component you take on.
- Component B: the risk is logistics — reaching remote farms, moving stock, and servicing pumps with no grid backup.
- Component C1: the risk is retrofit and metering coordination on existing pumps already in daily use.
- Component C2: the risk is land, grid tie-in and DISCOM coordination, much like a small power plant.
Across all three, the 5-year operations-and-maintenance (O&M) obligation means a fault in a remote village is your problem for years. Plan spares and service before you bid.
The 5-year O&M obligation hits each differently
Both components carry a typical 5-year operations-and-maintenance (O&M) duty, but it lands in different ways. For Component B, you are servicing off-grid pumps spread across remote villages, often with no spare power to fall back on if a part fails. A single dead pump can mean a farmer loses a crop cycle, so your response time matters more than on a grid-connected site.
For Component C1, the pump stays on the grid, so a fault is less catastrophic for the farmer, but you still own the solar side for five years. For Component C2, the O&M looks like running a small power plant — scheduled maintenance, generation monitoring and DISCOM coordination. Price the O&M honestly into your bid for whichever component you choose, because a thin margin can be wiped out by years of unfunded service calls.
Which should you bid?
Match the component to your strongest capability and the live tender.
- Strong rural logistics, many crews → Component B or C1.
- Comfortable with retrofits on live pumps → Component C1.
- Can build and grid-tie a small plant → Component C2.
- Want steady annuity income from one buyer → consider Component A instead.
How SuryaHub helps you run B and C
SuryaHub runs Component B and Component C tenders on one platform, so scattered pump sites and feeder-scale projects stay organised together. The quotation engine builds the per-tender cost sheet, while government workflows track each subsidy claim, USPC supply and warranty across every site. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; the only real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and the figures here are scheme facts and estimates, not guarantees.
Run Component B and C on one platform
See how SuryaHub tracks every pump site, claim and warranty.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between PM-KUSUM Component B and Component C?+
PM-KUSUM Component B installs new standalone off-grid solar pumps for farmers with no grid connection. Component C solarises pumps that are already grid-connected — either one pump at a time (C1) or a whole feeder (C2). Component B is off-grid; Component C stays linked to the grid and can export surplus power in some states.
Should an EPC bid Component B or Component C?+
An EPC should bid PM-KUSUM Component B if it is strong in rural logistics and many small off-grid sites, and Component C if it can handle retrofits or grid-scale feeder work. Component B suits scattered new pumps; Component C suits existing pumps and feeders. Match the choice to your team and the live state tender.
What is the difference between Component C1 and C2?+
PM-KUSUM Component C1 solarises individual agricultural pumps one farmer at a time, with the system on or near that pump. Component C2 solarises at the feeder level, building a larger solar plant that powers a whole agricultural feeder. C1 means many small jobs; C2 means fewer, larger, grid-scale projects with DISCOM coordination.
Does Component C need a universal solar pump controller?+
Whether PM-KUSUM Component C needs a universal solar pump controller (USPC) depends on the design and the state order. Standalone Component B pumps use a USPC by specification, while grid-connected Component C solarisation may use different equipment. Confirm the USPC requirement against the current MNRE technical specification and your state tender before you bid.
Which has better margins, Component B or Component C?+
Neither PM-KUSUM Component B nor Component C has guaranteed better margins — it depends on the state tender, benchmark cost and your delivery cost. Component B margin turns on logistics across scattered farms; Component C2 margin turns on grid and land cost. Run a proper cost sheet for the specific tender, because benchmark costs and subsidy splits are state-variable estimates.
Can an EPC do both Component B and Component C?+
Yes, an EPC can bid and deliver both PM-KUSUM Component B and Component C, and many do to keep their crews busy across tenders. Component B and Component C need different skills — rural logistics versus retrofit or grid work — so plan resourcing carefully. One system to track every site, claim and warranty keeps the two workflows from colliding.
Sources & references
Component B and C scope, equipment and funding rules come from primary scheme sources. Subsidy splits, surplus-export rules and benchmark costs vary by state and change over time — confirm the current figures before you bid.
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) ↗
PM-KUSUM Component B & C guidelines and benchmark costs.
- PM-KUSUM National Portal ↗
Component B & C dashboards and state status.
- SECI ↗
Model tender documents and technical specifications.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MNRE, PM-KUSUM portal & SECI sources · updated 19 June 2026.
Method: The component comparison is built from MNRE PM-KUSUM guidelines and SECI documents and re-checked every 30 days. Subsidy splits, USPC need and benchmark costs are state-variable estimates to confirm against the latest MNRE order. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 19 Jun 2026 — first published.