ALMM List 2026: Approved Manufacturers Explained for Installers

Every Indian EPC owner learns about the ALMM list at the worst possible time: during DISCOM (Distribution Company) inspection, when the engineer points out that the panels installed are not from an approved manufacturer. The PM Surya Ghar subsidy application is rejected. The customer is furious. The EPC has to source and replace the modules at their own cost.

In 2026 this trap got bigger. ALMM no longer covers only the finished panel. From 1 June 2026, the cells inside the panel face their own approved list, and getting either one wrong can sink a project's subsidy, net-metering approval, or both.

This guide explains what the ALMM list is in 2026, how List-I and List-II differ, how to check compliance before ordering, what changed with the June 2026 cell mandate, and what non-compliance costs your EPC. The list is revised regularly by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), so a model that was compliant last quarter may need re-verification today.

What is the ALMM list?

ALMM stands for Approved List of Models and Manufacturers. It is a quality and compliance registry maintained by MNRE, Government of India, and it decides which solar equipment is eligible for government-linked and net-metered solar projects in India.

Manufacturers apply to MNRE for listing, submit test reports from NABL-accredited laboratories, and pass a factory inspection. MNRE then adds the approved models to the list, publishing each revision on its official ALMM page.

In 2026 the ALMM register has two parts, and the distinction matters more than ever:

• List-I: Solar photovoltaic modules, the finished panels. Mandatory for government schemes, PM Surya Ghar, net-metering, and open access projects.
• List-II: Solar photovoltaic cells, the wafers inside those panels. Mandatory for projects commissioned from 1 June 2026, subject to the exemption window explained below.

ALMM List-I vs List-II: what changed in 2026

For years, ALMM meant one thing: is your panel model on the list. That changed on 1 June 2026, when MNRE's List-II for solar cells came into force. The ministry had notified this through an amendment recorded by the Press Information Bureau, and confirmed in May 2026 that there would be no blanket extension.

Here is the position as of July 2026:

On 18 July 2026, MNRE issued an office memorandum extending the List-II exemption for net-metering and open access renewable energy projects to 31 December 2026, up from the earlier 31 May 2026 cut-off, per reporting by Business Standard. The full breakdown of that window, including the commissioning-date test to run on every quote, is in our ALMM List-II exemption guide.

Why the ALMM list matters for Indian EPCs

For most of India's solar market history, an EPC could source panels from any supplier offering a good rate. ALMM ended that for every project that touches government money or the grid approval process. Four places where it bites:

PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana: The central subsidy, up to ₹78,000 per residential project, requires ALMM-compliant modules, and from June 2026, compliant cells. The PM Surya Ghar National Portal enforces this at vendor registration, where you declare the exact panel models you will install.

MNRE-funded and CPSU projects: Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) scheme projects, grid-connected rooftop programmes, and most state government schemes write ALMM compliance into tender conditions.

DISCOM inspection: Many DISCOMs verify ALMM compliance during net-metering inspection, one stage in the broader DISCOM approval process. A non-ALMM installation can be rejected at inspection and sent back for component replacement.

Customer warranty protection: Listed equipment carries warranty terms anchored in the listing process. Warranty claims on non-ALMM equipment installed in subsidised projects are much harder to enforce.

The Module-Cell Split Check: our 3-point framework

Before any procurement order for a PM Surya Ghar, net-metering, or open access project, run what we call the Module-Cell Split Check. It is a 3-point verification that takes about 5 minutes and protects ₹78,000 or more per project. The name comes from the 2026 reality: the panel and its cells now sit on two different lists, so one lookup is no longer enough.

1. 1

   Module on List-I

   On the MNRE ALMM page, open the current List-I (modules) document. Search the exact manufacturer and model number, and match the wattage variant. A 545 Wp variant being listed does not mean the 550 Wp variant of the same family is. Note the revision date in the document header.

2. 2

   Cell source on List-II

   Ask the module supplier, in writing, which manufacturer made the cells in the model you are buying. Check that cell maker against the current List-II document. If the project will commission after 31 December 2026, this step is mandatory. If it will commission earlier under the exemption, you still want the answer on file for the customer's records.

3. 3

   BIS registration on file

   Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) registration under the Compulsory Registration Order is separate from ALMM and required for modules sold in India. Collect the BIS certificate from the supplier with every batch. Verify registration details on the BIS portal if anything looks off.

Run all three, in order, on every order. If you use Quickest Solar CRM, the same check lives inside your quoting flow so the field team cannot skip it, more on that below.

How to check the ALMM list on mnre.gov.in

The current lists are free to download from the MNRE ALMM page. The process:

1. Go to mnre.gov.in and open the ALMM section (or search "ALMM MNRE").
2. Download the latest List-I (PV modules) and List-II (PV cells) documents.
3. Use Ctrl+F to search the manufacturer name, then the exact model number.
4. Confirm three things: the model appears, the wattage and variant match your order, and the revision is current (check the date in the document header).
5. Save a dated copy of the relevant page with your project file. It is your evidence if a DISCOM inspector or the PM Surya Ghar portal queries the installation months later.

MNRE revises the lists several times a year, and each revision can add models, remove manufacturers who failed renewal or audits, and update capacity ratings. Industry outlets like Mercom India and the Press Information Bureau cover major changes, but the MNRE document is the only version that counts at inspection.

Which manufacturers are typically on the ALMM list?

The list changes with every revision, so treat the names below as typical rather than guaranteed, and always verify the exact model on the MNRE portal before ordering. As of the 2026 revisions, enlisted List-II cell capacity crossed 30 GW by April 2026, up from 26 GW in February 2026 and 23.7 GW in December 2025, per TaiyangNews and PV-Tech. That growing base is why MNRE could set a hard cell mandate instead of another open-ended delay.

List-I (modules), commonly listed Indian manufacturers: Waaree Energies, Adani Solar, Vikram Solar, Tata Power Solar, Renewsys India, Goldi Solar, Premier Energies, and others. Some imported models appear too, subject to scheme-level DCR conditions.

List-II (cells): dominated by Indian cell plants commissioned or expanded since 2024, which is the entire policy intent. Your module supplier's cell source is what matters here, not the brand on the panel.

ALMM vs BIS: what is the difference?

ALMM and BIS are both compliance requirements for solar equipment in India, but different bodies run them for different purposes. A PM Surya Ghar installation needs both.

The practical read: a panel can carry BIS registration and still be ineligible for PM Surya Ghar if it is not on ALMM List-I. The reverse combination, ALMM without BIS, cannot be lawfully sold in India at all. Subsidised projects need both boxes ticked.

Pros and cons of the ALMM requirement for EPCs

On the premium point: on a 100 kW commercial rooftop where modules are roughly 45 percent of project cost, even a ₹1.5 per watt premium for List-II-compliant panels adds about ₹1.5 lakh to the job. Quote that openly rather than absorbing it at swap time. Current panel pricing context is in our solar panel price trends guide.

What happens if you use non-ALMM equipment?

The consequences depend on the project type and when the problem surfaces.

At DISCOM inspection (before commissioning): the engineer rejects the system. You replace the non-ALMM components and reschedule inspection. Budget 2 to 4 weeks of delay plus the full replacement cost, which lands on the EPC when it was your specification error.

After commissioning, before subsidy disbursement: the PM Surya Ghar portal cross-checks the installed model against the declared model and the ALMM list. A mismatch triggers rejection, one of the most common PM Surya Ghar rejection reasons, and at that stage the subsidy is usually unrecoverable.

Government and CPSU tenders: non-ALMM equipment can trigger contract penalties, blacklisting from future MNRE and SECI tenders, and damages claims from the developer. Severe for any EPC growing into commercial and industrial work.

ALMM and PM Surya Ghar: the connection

PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana enforces ALMM at two points in the application process:

At vendor registration: EPCs register on the PM Surya Ghar portal as empanelled vendors and declare the panel models they intend to use. The portal validates these against the ALMM list. Non-listed models are rejected at declaration. The full process is in our vendor registration guide.

At disbursement: after installation and DISCOM commissioning, the installed components are checked against the declared models and the list. Any discrepancy triggers rejection.

From 1 June 2026, subsidised modules must also be built on List-II cells. Knowing the full PM Surya Ghar eligibility picture before you commit a panel brand to a customer is what separates a clean month from a subsidy dispute. The ALMM check belongs in the design phase of the solar installation process, before the bill of materials is finalised, not at procurement.

How Quickest Solar CRM Fits

Rohit's team in Surat used to run ALMM checks manually: download the MNRE PDF, search the model name, update the bill of materials. When a revision removed two of their standard panel models, nobody noticed for three weeks, and four projects went out quoted on non-compliant panels. Quickest Solar CRM moves that check into the quoting flow itself, so compliance is verified at proposal time, not at DISCOM inspection.

• Proposal Generator, every quote records the exact panel model and cell source, so the Module-Cell Split Check happens before the customer signs, not after.
• Quotation System, maintain a curated list of ALMM-verified components your sales team picks from, and swap a bill of materials to a List-II-compliant panel in seconds when a project slips past the exemption window.
• Pipeline Management, see which projects have verified ALMM compliance and which are still pending before materials are ordered.

Want to see this on your own component list? Book a Quickest Solar CRM demo and run a live ALMM-compliant quote in the call.

What to do this week

1. Download the current List-I and List-II from mnre.gov.in today. Verify every panel model in your standard bill of materials against List-I, and get written confirmation from your supplier of the cell source for each. Anything that fails gets an approved replacement this week, not next quarter.
2. Add the Module-Cell Split Check to your procurement SOP. Make it a required step before every material order, with a dated copy of the ALMM page saved to the project file. Five minutes per order protects ₹78,000 or more per project.
3. Sort your open pipeline by commissioning date. Every net-metering and open access project that will energise after 31 December 2026 needs List-II cells priced in now. The exemption window guide linked above has the full test, and our net-metering explainer covers the approval mechanics if you are briefing a new salesperson.

Frequently asked questions

What does ALMM stand for?

ALMM stands for Approved List of Models and Manufacturers. It is maintained by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India. In 2026 it has two parts: List-I covers solar photovoltaic modules (panels), and List-II covers solar photovoltaic cells. Equipment on these lists is eligible for PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, net-metering, open access, and other government-linked solar projects.

Is ALMM mandatory for all solar installations in India?

ALMM is mandatory for PM Surya Ghar residential projects, CPSU scheme projects, and projects seeking net-metering or open access approval. It is not legally required for purely private off-grid installations with no subsidy or grid connection, but most quality-conscious EPCs source ALMM-listed equipment regardless, because it anchors warranty enforcement and product quality.

What changed in the ALMM rules in 2026?

From 1 June 2026, ALMM List-II for solar PV cells came into force: projects commissioned after that date must use modules from List-I built on cells from List-II manufacturers. On 18 July 2026, MNRE extended a List-II exemption for net-metering and open access renewable energy projects to 31 December 2026. The List-I module requirement applies throughout, with no exemption.

Where can I download the current ALMM list?

The lists are free on the official MNRE website at mnre.gov.in, in the ALMM section. Download the current List-I (modules) and List-II (cells) documents, search by manufacturer and model number, and check the revision date in the document header. MNRE revises the lists several times a year, so download fresh copies before large orders.

Can an EPC use non-ALMM panels for a PM Surya Ghar project?

No. Non-ALMM panels disqualify the entire subsidy, up to ₹78,000 per residential installation. The PM Surya Ghar portal validates model numbers against the ALMM list at vendor registration and again at subsidy disbursement. From June 2026, the cells inside the panel must also come from an ALMM List-II manufacturer for the subsidy to hold.

What is the difference between ALMM and BIS certification?

ALMM is run by MNRE and decides eligibility for subsidised and grid-linked projects. BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) registration under the Compulsory Registration Order is mandatory for all solar modules sold in India and covers product safety and standards. PM Surya Ghar projects need both. A panel can have BIS registration without ALMM listing, usable in private projects but not subsidised ones.

What happens if a model in my stock gets removed from the ALMM list?

You can still use that stock for private, non-subsidised installations. For PM Surya Ghar, net-metering, or MNRE projects, you must source a listed alternative. Keep a 15 to 20 percent buffer in project scheduling for component swaps, and re-verify your standard bill of materials every time MNRE publishes a revision.

Which solar panel brands are typically on the ALMM list?

List-I commonly includes major Indian manufacturers such as Waaree Energies, Adani Solar, Vikram Solar, Tata Power Solar, Renewsys India, Goldi Solar, and Premier Energies, plus some imported models subject to DCR conditions. Listing is model-level and revision-specific, so verify the exact model and wattage variant on the current MNRE document before every order.