MNRE Issues Amendment to ALMM Order for Solar PV Cells
The Ministry for New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) on 28 July 2025 released an amendment to its Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) order for solar photovoltaic (PV) cells that seeks to ease the procedures for projects bid by government agencies.
The order states that all projects that are mandated to use solar PV cells from the ALMM List-I if the last date of submission of bids on or before the cut-off date. They will, however, be exempt from being required to use solar PV cells from ALMM-II list. The order clarifies that cut-off date means exactly one month after the publication of ALMM-II list for Solar PV cells.
The notification to the amendment reads, “For all projects (including the projects bid out following the Guidelines issued by the Central Government) that are mandated to use solar PV modules from ALMM List-I (for solar PV modules), if the last date of bid submission is on or before the cut-off date and such projects are mandated to use solar PV modules from ALMM List-I (for solar PV modules). These projects will be exempted from using solar PV cells from ALMM List-II (for solar PV cells), even if their date of commissioning is beyond 1st June 2026.”
The order also states that in case of MNRE’s schemes and programs like PM-KUSUM, PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana and others, there will be no relaxation in Domestic Content Requirement (DCR), wherever applicable. It says, “There shall be no relaxation in Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) provisions, wherever applicable in respect of MNRE’s Schemes/Programs like Components B&C of PM-KUSUM, PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana and CPSU Scheme Phase-II.”
The amendment has also made a change regarding the timelines. While the earlier order stated that the installed capacity of solar PV cells was expected to increase substantially in the next year, it has now been amended to read the installed capacity of solar PV cells in expected to increase substantially in the next few years.
In a press release, MNRE said the motive for the amendment was to give clarity to bidders in submitting their bids. It said that this step will boost the domestic solar manufacturing projects in the country while adequately addressing the issues faced by the renewable power developers in complying with the ALMM for solar PV cells.
