The agricultural sector in India is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, in part due to the widespread use of diesel-powered irrigation pumps. In response, the Indian government launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) scheme in 2019 to promote the adoption of solar energy for agricultural irrigation. Component B of the scheme, which aims at replacing diesel pumps with standalone solar pumps, has shown varying policy performance across states. This thesis explores the factors contributing to these disparities, focusing on socio-economic, agricultural, energy, and institutional domains that influence policy outcomes.

Using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) with thematic analysis of expert interviews. The QCA identifies key causal pathways to both positive and negative adoption outcomes, highlighting patterns that explain the differing regional performances. Additionally, the thematic analysis examined the roles of institutional capacity, stakeholder coordination, and resource availability, providing nuanced insights into the factors shaping implementation.

The findings indicated that irrigation demand, influenced by factors such as unreliable electricity access or reliance on diesel pumps, interacted with regional conditions to shape policy outcomes. Broader enabling factors, including institutional support, resource availability, and political or economic considerations, played a significant role in facilitating the adoption of solar water pumps under the policy. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of the energy-agriculture nexus and offer a foundation for improving solar energy adoption in agriculture by developing a better understanding of the factors influencing policy performance.