The ALMM List Explained: What Solar Buyers Need to Check Before They Buy

Two solar quotes can list the same wattage, the same brand, and still differ on one thing that decides whether you get a subsidy, a net meter, or neither: whether the modules are on India's ALMM list. Most buyers have heard the acronym without knowing what it actually checks, or that the rules changed twice in the last six months.

This guide explains what ALMM is, the difference between List-I and List-II, who is actually required to check it, and the 2026 changes that affect anyone buying solar in India right now.

What ALMM means

ALMM stands for Approved List of Models and Manufacturers, a list maintained by India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). It names the specific solar panel models, by exact model number, that are approved for use in government-linked and subsidy-linked solar projects in India.

The point of ALMM is quality assurance and domestic manufacturing support in one mechanism. A manufacturer cannot simply claim their product qualifies; each specific model has to be tested and listed by model number before it counts. Buying "a listed brand" is not the same as buying a listed model, a distinction that trips up more buyers than any other part of this rule.

List-I vs List-II: the difference that matters

ALMM actually has two separate lists, and conflating them is the single most common mistake:

ALMM List-I covers finished solar modules (panels). A module maker's specific model, by wattage and series, must appear here to qualify.

ALMM List-II covers solar cells, the silicon components inside the module, not the finished panel. This list exists because a module can be assembled in India from imported cells. List-II was introduced to require that the cells themselves, not just the final assembly, are made domestically.

Since 1 June 2026, both lists matter for most government-linked solar in India. A module has to be on List-I, and the cells used inside it have to come from a manufacturer on List-II. This combined requirement is commonly called DCR, the Domestic Content Requirement. A module can be ALMM List-I listed and still fail to qualify for subsidy if its cells are not from a List-II source.

As of the 12th revision of List-II, published 8 October 2026, India's enlisted domestic solar cell capacity reached 37.8 GW, with Gopin Semicon added as the newest approved manufacturer in that revision.

Who actually needs to check ALMM

ALMM compliance is not universal; it applies to specific categories of buyer:

• PM Surya Ghar residential subsidy applicants. DCR-compliant modules, List-I plus List-II, are required to receive the central subsidy. Our PM Surya Ghar guide covers the full eligibility rules.
• Net-metering and open-access projects. Since June 2026, these also require ALMM List-I and List-II compliant modules, with an important exception covered below.
• Government tenders and PSU projects. Central and state government solar procurement has required ALMM compliance for longer than the residential and net-metering rules.
• PM Kusum scheme applicants. Agricultural solar pump and feeder-level solar installations under PM Kusum also require ALMM-listed modules.

Captive projects with no net metering or subsidy claim are not currently bound by ALMM. A factory installing solar purely for its own consumption, without exporting to the grid or claiming any government support, can use non-ALMM modules, though doing so forfeits any future subsidy or net-metering eligibility for that installation.

How to verify a module and its cells

Checking ALMM status takes two separate steps, matching the two lists:

1. Check List-I on the official MNRE ALMM page for the exact model number, not the brand name. A manufacturer can have some models listed and others not.
2. Check List-II for the specific cell manufacturer and model used inside that module. Ask your supplier for written confirmation of the cell source, since this is not always obvious from the module's own documentation.

A reputable manufacturer will provide DCR certification with the module serial numbers on request. If a seller cannot produce this, treat the subsidy or net-metering eligibility of that quote as unconfirmed.

The 2026 rule changes

Three separate developments changed the ALMM picture this year, and conflating them causes real confusion:

1. List-II became mandatory for subsidy and government-linked solar from 1 June 2026. Before this date, many projects could use List-I listed modules regardless of cell origin. After it, DCR, both lists, became the standard requirement for PM Surya Ghar and government-linked solar.

2. Net-metering and open-access projects received a separate, limited exemption, now extended to 31 December 2026. Under MNRE Office Memorandum No. 283/53/2026-GRID SOLAR, dated 18 July 2026, net-metering (rooftop-type) projects and open-access or group-captive renewable power projects can commission without List-II cell compliance until this date. This is not a blanket exemption for all solar, and it replaced an earlier deadline of 31 May 2026. After 31 December 2026, these project categories will also require full List-I and List-II compliance, with no further blanket relief currently announced.

3. A new standardised naming system for List-II cells was proposed on 5 October 2026. MNRE's proposal introduces a 14-character alphanumeric code for every listed cell model, identifying technology type, wafer size and efficiency band at a glance. Proposed codes include MP for mono PERC, TC for TOPCon, HJ for HJT, BC for back-contact and PS for perovskite cells. This is a labelling change, not yet in force, intended to make List-II easier to verify.

Treat any article, including this one, that states ALMM rules without a checked date as potentially outdated. These deadlines have moved twice in 2026 already.

What happens if you buy non-compliant modules

The consequences depend entirely on what you were trying to claim:

• Subsidy applicants with non-DCR modules simply do not receive the PM Surya Ghar subsidy. The system still works technically, but the central government payment does not apply.
• Net-metering applicants outside the current exemption window risk the DISCOM refusing to issue a net meter, which blocks grid export entirely until the installation is brought into compliance.
• Government tender bidders with non-compliant modules are disqualified from that tender outright.
• Private captive installations with no subsidy or export claim face no ALMM-related consequence, but permanently lose the option to add subsidy or net metering later without replacing the modules.

In every case, the module itself still generates electricity. ALMM governs eligibility for government programmes and grid connection, not whether the panel physically works.

How Atal Solar modules qualify

Atal Solar's G12R and M10R series are ALMM List-I listed and built with Indian-made cells from ALMM List-II, meeting the current DCR requirement for PM Surya Ghar subsidy and for net-metering and open-access projects. Buyers should still confirm the exact model number against the live MNRE list at the time of purchase, since model-level listings can change, and ALMM status should never be assumed from the brand name alone.

Final word on the ALMM list

ALMM is two separate lists working together: List-I for finished modules, List-II for the solar cells inside them. Since June 2026, government-linked and subsidy-linked solar generally needs both, with net-metering and open-access projects carrying a separate exemption that currently runs to 31 December 2026. Rules in this area have shifted twice in 2026 already, so check the live MNRE list at the time of purchase rather than relying on a remembered deadline.

For subsidy eligibility specifics by state, see our state-by-state subsidy guide. For commercial and net-metered projects, our 10kW system guide and 600W panel guide cover the same rule in practice. If you want DCR-compliant modules confirmed in writing, contact Atal Solar.

Frequently asked questions

What is the full form of ALMM?

ALMM stands for Approved List of Models and Manufacturers, a list maintained by India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy that names specific solar module models and manufacturers approved for government-linked and subsidy-linked solar projects.

What is the difference between ALMM List-I and List-II?

List-I covers finished solar modules, meaning the complete panel by model number. List-II covers solar cells, the silicon component inside the module. Since June 2026, most government-linked solar needs the module on List-I and its cells sourced from a List-II manufacturer, together called DCR compliance.

Is ALMM compliance mandatory for all solar panels in India?

No. It is required for PM Surya Ghar subsidy applicants, government and PSU tenders, PM Kusum applicants, and, since June 2026, net-metering and open-access projects (though these currently have an exemption running to 31 December 2026). Private captive installations with no subsidy or grid export claim are not bound by ALMM.

How do I check if a solar panel model is ALMM listed?

Check the exact model number, not the brand, against the official MNRE ALMM list. Verify List-I for the module and List-II for the cells used inside it separately, since a module can be List-I listed while its cells are not List-II sourced. Ask your supplier for written DCR certification with the module serial numbers.

What happens if my net-metering project does not use List-II cells?

If commissioned within the current exemption window, ending 31 December 2026, net-metering and open-access projects can proceed without List-II cell compliance. After that date, non-compliant projects risk the DISCOM refusing to issue a net meter, which blocks grid export until the installation meets the requirement.

Does Atal Solar's modules meet ALMM List-I and List-II requirements?

Yes. Atal Solar's G12R and M10R series are ALMM List-I listed and built with Indian-made cells sourced from ALMM List-II manufacturers, meeting the current DCR requirement. Buyers should still confirm the exact model number on the live MNRE list at the time of purchase.

How often does the ALMM list change?

Frequently. List-II alone has had at least twelve revisions, with the most recent on 8 October 2026 adding a new manufacturer and taking enlisted cell capacity to 37.8 GW. Deadlines and exemption windows have also moved twice in 2026. Always confirm current status on the official MNRE page rather than relying on a remembered date.