The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has mandated that all renewable power developers seeking commissioning extensions beyond June 1, 2026, under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II must submit requests via the Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) portal. All project-specific exemption applications and supporting evidence must be uploaded to the digital platform by the June 30, 2026, deadline. The ministry will not grant blanket extensions, and physical applications will not be accepted for processing.
Directive Framework and Policy Context
The mandate follows the issuance of Office Memorandum No. 283/63/2025-GRID SOLAR, dated May 25, 2026. The policy stipulates that Net-Metering, Open Access, and Renewable Energy power projects commissioned on or after June 1, 2026, are required to comply with ALMM List-II requirements for solar PV cells.
Exemptions are evaluated on a project-specific basis by an MNRE-constituted Expert Committee. This review process is intended to protect cases where developers have documented capital already deployed or undertaken verifiable steps toward project grounding. Projects that do not meet the defined eligibility criteria by the June 1, 2026, deadline must source solar PV cells from ALMM List-II.
Eligibility Category I: 100% Module Installation
Category I applies to projects where solar PV module installation was completed prior to June 1, 2026, but official commissioning remains pending. To qualify for an extension under this category, developers must provide the following:
- Installation Requirement: 100% of the solar PV modules required for the project must be physically installed on-site before June 1, 2026.
- Mandatory Certification: A self-attested copy of the approval or certification from the office of the Electrical Inspectorate regarding DC-side installations, confirming the installation of solar PV modules.
- Visual Evidence: Geo-tagged and time-stamped photographs of the project site showing the installed module arrays.
Eligibility Category II: Project Grounding and “Effective Steps”
Category II is for projects in development stages that have taken “effective steps” toward execution before June 1, 2026. To be eligible, a project must satisfy all following conditions simultaneously:
| Eligibility Condition | Criteria for Qualification | Required Evidence (All must be Self-Attested) |
| Land Possession | Possession of at least 75% of total land required before June 1, 2026. | Land registry, mutation records, lease deeds, or government allotment letters. |
| Financial Closure | Achievement of full financial closure before June 1, 2026. | Sanction letters, loan agreements, board resolutions, equity commitment letters, or CA certificates. |
| Grid Connectivity | In-principle grant received before June 1, 2026, with a connectivity start date also before June 1, 2026. | Connectivity grant letter from CTU/STU explicitly stating the connectivity start date. |
| Electrical Drawings | Approval of drawings (including Single Line Diagrams) obtained before May 1, 2026. | Certification or approval documents issued by the office of the Electrical Inspectorate. |
| Module Status (E1) | 100% of required modules arrived at the project site before May 25, 2026. | GST invoices, e-way bills, Lorry Receipts, and geo-tagged site photographs. |
| Module Status (E2) | Alternatively to E1, more than 50% of modules installed before June 1, 2026. | GST invoices, e-way bills, EPC contractor payment invoices, and geo-tagged site photographs. |
Note: E1 and E2 are mutually exclusive logic options within the portal interface; developers must satisfy one of these two module-related conditions to complete Category II requirements.
Submission Process and Technical Requirements
All extension claims must be processed through the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) portal at https://solardcrportal.nise.res.in/.
Registration and Access
- New Users: Developers not currently on the platform must register by selecting the “RE Power Project Developer” company type.
- Existing Users: Developers already registered on the DCR portal must raise a support ticket once to enable the “Fill Format” tab required for these submissions.
Technical Data Points
- Traceability: Compliance is verified via a unique 16-digit DCR certificate. This certificate is generated by the module manufacturer through the portal and provided to the developer for submission.
- Project Identifiers: Developers must provide the CEA Unique Registration Number (URN) and exact geospatial coordinates (latitude and longitude in decimal degrees).
- Administrative Details: The portal requires the PAN and contact details of the Key Managerial Person (KMP). Final submission is authenticated via an OTP sent to the KMP’s 10-digit Indian mobile number.
- Character Limits: The “Reasons for Delay” field in the portal requires a factual explanation with a minimum of 50 characters.
Special Provisions and Exclusions
The MNRE has established specific guidelines for residential consumers and integrated manufacturing:
- Residential “Give It Up” Campaign: Residential net-metering consumers under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana who opt out of Central Financial Assistance (CFA) are not governed by the June 1, 2026, ALMM List-II deadline. These consumers remain under existing scheme guidelines until March 31, 2027, but must apply exclusively through the National Portal.
- Thin Film Exemption: Integrated domestic manufacturing units producing thin film solar PV modules in India are considered compliant with ALMM List-II cell requirements, provided the entire manufacturing process is integrated within India.
Once the final submission is completed via the DCR portal, the system does not permit further edits to data or uploaded documents.
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