• The ₹34,000-crore PM-KUSUM programme, designed to enhance solar energy infrastructure in agriculture, has faced delays, prompting States to explore alternative methods to increase adoption.
• The Pradhan Mantri-Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) aims to establish 100 GW of solar power on farmer-owned land, install 14 lakh solar pumps, and solarize 35 lakh grid-connected agricultural pumps.
• As of June, only 256 MW of power plants, 3.97 lakh solar pumps, and 13,500 solarized pumps have been installed, leading the government to extend the scheme's deadline to 2026.
• Major challenges include the lack of suitable land; while solar power in India has expanded with utility-scale projects in Gujarat and Rajasthan, finding adequate agricultural land for solar installations remains difficult.
• Saurabh Kumar, Vice President of Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), notes that pooling agricultural land for power projects is a significant hurdle.
• GEAPP, a collaboration between the IKEA Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Bezos Earth Fund, is working with the Rajasthan government to develop a digital platform utilizing drone technology for land mapping.
• This digital platform allows real-time tracking of the scheme's progress and facilitates prompt corrective actions, providing essential oversight for large-scale solar projects.
• The platform has already resulted in 12.3 MW of solar power installation in Rajasthan, with plans to reach 100 MW by 2024 and expand to Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
• Farmers who agree to host solar modules on their land receive rent from power project developers, with GEAPP ensuring fair compensation based on market rates and inflation.
• GEAPP’s solutions and support have helped Rajasthan significantly advance its renewable energy targets, with nearly 200 MW of the national 256 MW solar capacity installed in the state, according to the Ministry for New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)

Incentives and Subsidies:

• Financial Assistance: The government provides subsidies to reduce the cost of solar rooftop installations. This financial assistance varies based on the capacity of the system and the type of user.
• Tax Benefits: Some schemes offer tax incentives or benefits for the installation of rooftop solar systems

• Leaders of farmer unions from 18 states and advocates for farmers' rights have sent a letter to Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, urging the creation of a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops.
• On August 22, 2024, leaders and members of farmer unions convened in Chandigarh for a one-day meeting, where they passed a resolution opposing GM crops.
• The resolution stated that "GM organisms and their products are unnecessary, unsafe, and undesirable in India’s food and agricultural systems. Indian farmers seek sovereign, nature-preserving farming methods. Modern biotechnology, with its high costs and associated risks, is an unsafe and deceptive tool for controlling our agricultural systems—something we cannot and will not tolerate."
• The resolution also emphasized the need for a national policy on GM crops that focuses on biosecurity and socio-economic considerations, taking a precautionary approach. This policy should enable the government to proceed with caution and avoid imposing risky and unnecessary technology on farmers.
• During the meeting, farmers highlighted that, even 30 years after the first GM crop was commercialized in the United States, most countries still do not permit GM crop cultivation.
• In fact, more regions worldwide are implementing bans and stringent restrictions on this uncontrolled and irreversible technology. Fourteen countries that once allowed GM crop cultivation have since banned it, as initial claims have been proven false, and the promised benefits have failed to materialize.
• Organizations advocating for farmers' rights have been calling for comprehensive stakeholder consultation in the development of a national policy on GM crops, following a Supreme Court order on July 23.
• The two-member bench directed the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change to formulate a national policy on GM crops within four months, involving public consultation and representatives of farmers.
• Farmer organizations argue that GM technology has been scientifically proven to have negative effects on human health, with molecular changes leading to numerous environmental and health risks, including increased chemical use. These concerns extend to all GM crops, including those developed by India’s public sector research bodies and scientists.
• Given the widespread rejection of GM crops and foods globally, India risks losing its competitive advantage as a GM-free nation and compromising its trade security by adopting GM crop cultivation.
• Additionally, agricultural livelihoods are adversely impacted. Farmers’ reliance on intellectual property rights-based technologies and the growing dominance of corporate monopolies in the agricultural sector are deemed unacceptable in the context of rapid market integration by large agribusinesses

1.Which of the following statements about Genetically Modified (GM) crops is/are correct?

1. GM crops are designed to improve yield and resistance to pests and diseases.
2. GM crops have been universally accepted and are cultivated in all major agricultural countries.
3. The use of GM crops can potentially lead to a reduction in the use of chemical pesticides.

Select the correct answer using the code given below: