Govt denies blanket extension for solar PV cells sourcing rules; what changes for projects from June 2026

The government on Monday ruled out any blanket extension of the June 1, 2026 deadline for implementation of the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II for solar photovoltaic (PV) cells.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) said projects commissioned after June 1, 2026 will have to comply with ALMM List-II provisions mandating the use of approved domestic solar PV cells.

Under the existing framework, net-metering and open access projects commissioned before June 1, 2026 are exempt from the requirement.

The ministry said it had received representations from stakeholders seeking both extension and non-extension of the deadline and held wider consultations with the industry before taking the decision.

It also took into account an Office Memorandum issued by the Department of Expenditure on April 29, 2026, which advised that the ongoing West Asia situation may be treated as war and that extensions, where necessary, should be considered only on a specific-case basis rather than through a blanket policy.

“After detailed examination of the representations received and wider stakeholder consultations, it has been decided that no blanket extension of the deadline for applicability of ALMM List-II for solar PV cells beyond 1st June 2026 is required,” the ministry said in a statement.

Case-by-case relief

However, to protect investments already made, certain renewable energy projects may be granted appropriate time extension on a case-to-case basis.

The ministry said projects where solar module installation has been completed but commissioning remains pending, or where developers have already undertaken “effective steps”, would be eligible for consideration.

Such effective steps include land acquisition, financial closure, connectivity arrangements, approval of electrical drawings, and arrival or installation of solar modules, the ministry said.

Renewable energy developers seeking extension beyond June 1, 2026 can submit claims with documentary proof through a dedicated portal being developed by the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) till June 30, 2026.

The claims will be examined by an expert committee to be constituted by the ministry, which will recommend project-wise relief after assessing supporting documents.

The decision effectively means that renewable energy projects commissioned after June 1 will, in most cases, have to source solar PV cells from manufacturers included in ALMM List-II, unless they secure project-specific exemptions.

PM Surya Ghar consumers exempted till March 2027

The ministry also clarified that residential net-metering consumers participating in the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana’s “Give It Up” campaign, who voluntarily forgo government subsidy, will continue to be governed by existing scheme guidelines till March 31, 2027.

However, such consumers will have to apply through the scheme’s national portal.

Solar manufacturing capacity

The decision comes at a time when India’s solar manufacturing ecosystem is undergoing rapid expansion driven by policy support measures including ALMM, production-linked incentives (PLI) and basic customs duty on imported solar equipment.

According to a November 2025 report by rating agency ICRA, India’s solar PV module manufacturing capacity is expected to rise to over 165 GW by March 2027 from around 109 GW currently.

The report said implementation of ALMM List-II for solar PV cells from June 2026 has accelerated expansion of domestic cell manufacturing capacity by module manufacturers, which is likely to increase to around 100 GW by December 2027 from 17.9 GW currently under ALMM.

ICRA, however, cautioned that the industry could face overcapacity risks as annual solar installation demand is projected at 45-50 GWdc against estimated annual module production capacity of 60-65 GW.

It also noted that recent US tariff measures have adversely affected export opportunities, leading to diversion of modules meant for overseas markets into the domestic market.

The rating agency said the likely overcapacity situation could trigger consolidation among smaller and pure-play module manufacturers, while vertically integrated players are expected to benefit in the long run due to better supply chain control.

The report also highlighted India’s heavy dependence on China across the solar manufacturing supply chain, with China accounting for over 90 per cent of global polysilicon and wafer capacity, over 85 per cent of cell manufacturing and around 80 per cent of module manufacturing.

Given India’s continued reliance on imports of wafers and ingots, any geopolitical restrictions on technology or machinery supplies for backward integration remain a significant risk, it added.

ALMM List-III for solar ingots and wafers

In March this year, the government expanded the domestic sourcing mandate by introducing ALMM List-III for solar ingots and wafers.

The new list will come into effect from June 1, 2028.

The ministry has clarified that bids submitted under the tariff-based competitive bidding route after the cut-off date must mandatorily use ALMM List-III compliant wafers.

It also said suitable grandfathering provisions have been incorporated to protect projects already in the pipeline.