MNRE Issues Clarification On ALMM List-II Applicability For Solar PV Cells

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (“MNRE”), by its Office Memorandum No. 283/54/2026-GRID SOLAR dated 04.08.2026¹ (“ALMM Clarification OM”), has issued a clarification on the applicability of the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (“ALMM”) List-II (for solar PV cells), in light of MNRE’s Office Memorandum no. 283/53/2026-GRID SOLAR dated 18.07.2026. The clarifications issued are as under:

• Projects awarded through bidding: Projects are exempt from ALMM List-II (for solar PV cells) where the last date of bid submission is on or before 31.08.2025, being the date falling one month after publication of the initial ALMM List-II dated 31.07.2025, and this exemption applies to bids which were live as on 28.07.2025. However, where the last date of bid submission was between 09.12.2024 and 28.07.2025, tender conditions requiring the usage of solar PV cells from ALMM List-II shall remain valid, since MNRE’s office memorandum dated 28.07.2025, which shifted the cut-off date for applicability of ALMM for solar PV cells on projects awarded through bidding from 09.12.2024 to 31.08.2025, does not directly or automatically relax such bid conditions.
• Net-Metering & Open Access Projects: Projects are exempt from ALMM List-II (for solar PV cells) if commissioned by 31.12.2026, else not. Compliance with ALMM List-I (for solar PV modules) shall continue to be followed as per the extant provisions applicable to the concerned project. The exemption from ALMM List-II is irrespective of whether the project was initiated prior to or after 18.07.2026 and does not require any application to be made on the portal.
• Rooftop solar projects on government buildings awarded through bidding: The applicability of ALMM List-II (for solar PV Cells) has been clarified as (a) where the last date of bid submission was on or prior to 09.12.2024, the projects shall be exempt; (b) where the last date of bid submission was between 09.12.2024 and 28.07.2025, the projects shall be governed by the provisions in the tender documents; (c) where the last date of bid submission was from 28.07.2025 to 31.08.2025, the projects shall be exempt; and (d) where the last date of bid submission was after 31.08.2025, the projects shall not be exempt.
• Behind-the-Meter Projects: ALMM List-I and List II do not apply to Behind-the-Meter plants for captive consumption by consumers other than Government entities/Public Sector Enterprises (“PSE”). For captive consumption by Government entities/PSEs, using ALMM-listed modules is mandatory if commissioned after 31.12.2026 and such projects are exempted from using ALMM listed cells if commissioned by 31.12.2026.
• No impact on DCR provisions: MNRE’s ALMM Office Memorandums/orders do not affect or relax Domestic Content Requirement (“DCR”) provisions under respective scheme guidelines of such schemes, which continue to be governed independently. Accordingly, no order or office memorandum on ALMM issued by MNRE relaxes any provision relating to the usage of domestically manufactured solar PV modules and domestically manufactured solar PV cells under any of MNRE’s schemes.

Footnote

1. MNRE Clarifies ALMM List-II Applicability for Solar PV Cells.

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