MNRE Clarifies ALMM List-II Cell Exemption for ‘Give It Up’ Residential Solar Consumers

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) issued an office memorandum on June 8, 2026, providing a technical clarification regarding a temporary regulatory exemption from the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II requirements for solar photovoltaic (PV) cells. This directive applies specifically to residential consumers participating in the ‘Give It Up’ category under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSG: MBY). The memorandum establishes this exemption through a harmonious reading of the scheme guidelines dated June 7, 2024, and previous ministerial orders, ensuring that the regulatory framework for residential solar cell sourcing is applied consistently for non-subsidized participants.

The ‘Give It Up’ Provision Defined

Under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, the ‘Give It Up’ category consists of residential consumers who voluntarily choose to forgo the Central Financial Assistance (CFA), or government subsidy, available for rooftop solar installations. According to the MNRE, this provision was integrated into the program to allow scheme benefits to reach a wider cross-section of households while simultaneously reducing the total subsidy burden on public funds. While these consumers waive financial support, they remain governed by the broader PMSG: MBY framework to maintain access to net-metering and other program-linked benefits.

Implementation Guidelines and Compliance

The MNRE has established specific procedural requirements and timelines for consumers utilizing this cell-level exemption. Stakeholders must adhere to the following data points:

• Exemption Deadline: The regulatory exemption from ALMM List-II solar cell requirements remains valid until March 31, 2027, which is the current scheduled end date for the PM Surya Ghar program.
• Application Pathway: To qualify for this exemption, residential consumers are mandatorily required to submit their applications through the official PM Surya Ghar National Portal.
• Digital Clearance Exemption: Eligible consumers in the ‘Give It Up’ category are not required to file separate applications on the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) Digital Clearance and Registration (DCR) Portal to claim this specific ALMM List-II cell-level exemption.

Regulatory Scope and Technical Constraints

The applicability of this directive is strictly limited to residential rooftop solar projects commissioned under the ‘Give It Up’ provision of the PM Surya Ghar program. All other rooftop solar installations and project categories remain subject to standard ALMM regulations and extant ministerial orders. Crucially, the memorandum distinguishes between the sourcing of components: while the requirement for solar cells to be sourced from manufacturers on ALMM List-II is exempted for this category, the baseline requirement for the finished solar modules to be selected from ALMM List-I remains in force. This module-level compliance (List-I) is mandatory to ensure that all equipment connected to the grid adheres to established quality and safety standards.

Official Implementation Directive

This memorandum has been issued with the approval of the Secretary, MNRE, and is effective immediately. The directive has been circulated to all State Energy Secretaries, Managing Directors of DISCOMs, State Nodal Agencies (SNA), and State Implementation Agencies (SIA) for administrative action and compliance.