The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has achieved a historic global milestone by installing 45,911 off-grid solar agricultural pumps within a span of just 30 days, a feat officially recognised by Guinness World Records. This accomplishment positions Maharashtra as India’s fastest-advancing state in solar irrigation and places it second only to China worldwide in the scale and speed of solar pump deployment by a single administrative body. The achievement reflects MSEDCL’s commitment to strengthening India’s clean-energy transition, improving irrigation reliability, and enhancing farmer incomes through the effective rollout of the PM-KUSUM (Component B) and Magel Tyala Saur Krushi Pump Yojana (MTSKPY) schemes.
MSEDCL’s rapid deployment was enabled by structured planning, strict vendor accountability, a strong field workforce, and digital monitoring systems, with a focus on drought-prone regions where solar irrigation can deliver the greatest impact. Pumps were allocated based on landholding size—3 HP units for up to 2.5 acres, 5 HP for up to 5 acres, and 7 HP for larger farms—ensuring equitable access and maximizing benefits for small and marginal farmers. The State has also adopted a policy of fulfilling new agricultural connections through off-grid solar pumps, ensuring dependable daytime power for farmers while reducing pressure on the traditional electricity network. With more than 7.47 lakh solar pumps already installed and a target of 10.45 lakh, Maharashtra is leading one of the most significant renewable-energy shifts in India’s agricultural sector.
Speaking on the achievement, Hon’ble Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that, under the guidance of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the transformative PM-KUSUM programme, Maharashtra has accelerated the adoption of clean irrigation solutions. He noted that installing more than 45,911 solar pumps in a single month has made Maharashtra the country’s leading state in solar agriculture, strengthening irrigation security, enhancing productivity, increasing farm incomes, and reducing dependence on conventional energy sources. He congratulated Mahavitran for this milestone and reaffirmed the State’s commitment to building a resilient and sustainable future for farmers.
Lokesh Chandra, IAS, Chairman and Managing Director of MSEDCL, credited the achievement to efficient programme design, transparent vendor selection, and strict service-level enforcement. He emphasized that all vendors are required to resolve farmer grievances within three days, failing which the matter is escalated to MSEDCL for corrective action. He also highlighted the State’s policy shift toward providing new agricultural connections exclusively through off-grid solar pumps and reaffirmed the importance of the pump-sizing framework that ensures fair distribution and high impact across farming communities.
Marking the occasion, the CMD and CEO of GK Energy noted that this record represents a moment of pride for Maharashtra and a testament to what can be accomplished when technology, precision, and purpose come together. GK Energy, which installed nearly 17 percent of all off-grid solar pumps during the record-setting month, expressed pride in working alongside Mahavitran. The company emphasized that the initiative was not merely an engineering achievement but also an example of how off-grid solar pumps are proving to be both technologically superior and economically transformative. The collaboration has helped build a more resilient, cost-effective, and farmer-friendly irrigation ecosystem that strengthens Maharashtra’s food security while reducing strain on the electricity grid. GK Energy reaffirmed its commitment to delivering scalable and sustainable solutions that empower farmers across the State.
Maharashtra’s achievement offers a replicable model for India and for countries across the global south, demonstrating how structured planning, transparent operations, and a farmer-first approach can drive widespread adoption of clean-energy irrigation. The Government of Maharashtra and MSEDCL remain committed to expanding solar irrigation, building farmer resilience, and accelerating India’s broader clean-energy transformation.
MSEDCL was established on 6 June 2005 following the unbundling of the Maharashtra State Electricity Board under the Electricity Act 2003. It is responsible for distributing electricity to residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural consumers across the State, excluding specific areas of Mumbai supplied by Adani Electricity, Tata Power, and BEST. The utility serves more than 35 million consumers and manages a peak demand of 30 GW, projected to reach 45 GW by 2030. Maharashtra is the only state to have finalized both its Resource Adequacy Plan and its Energy Transition Plan, which stand among the largest such frameworks globally.
