The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has declared that there will be no blanket extension of the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II deadline beyond June 1, 2026.

All net-metering and open-access renewable energy projects commissioned on or after June 1, 2026, must source their solar modules from ALMM List-I and solar cells from ALMM List-II.

MNRE said projects where solar modules had already arrived at the site, where installation had been completed but commissioning had not occurred, or where effective steps had been taken by developers to ground the project, may be considered for a time extension on a case-by-case basis.

Such protection will apply only after an objective assessment of supporting documents and only to net-metering and open-access projects where the investment already made merits protection in the public interest.

The MNRE order, issued less than a week before the ALMM List-II mandate kicks in, follows several discussions with industry representatives, including solar manufacturers and developers.

It notes a broad consensus that policy stability should be maintained to ensure long-term investor confidence in India’s solar manufacturing sector.

The order also refers to the Department of Expenditure’s April 29, 2026, memorandum on ‘Force Majeure Clause,’ which says the ongoing West Asia situation should be treated as war for force majeure.

The clause states that where disruptions arising from the prevailing situation in West Asia directly affect contractual obligations for goods, services, construction, or works contracts with government agencies, procuring entities may invoke force majeure.

It also allows extension of contractual obligations that were to be completed on or after February 28, 2026, by at least two months and up to four months, without cost or penalty, subject to case-by-case examination.

The order sets out two broad categories of projects that may seek exemption from ALMM List-II compliance for solar cells.

• Category I covers projects in which 100% of the required solar modules were installed at the project site before June 1, 2026, but the project was not commissioned before that date. To qualify, developers must submit approval or certification from the office of the Electrical Inspectorate to the government on DC-side installations, including the installation of solar modules.
• Category II covers projects where effective steps had been taken for grounding the project, but the project was not commissioned before June 1, 2026. Under this route, the developer must include clear possession of at least 75% of the land required for the project and financial closure before June 1, 2026, as well as receipt of in-principle grant of connectivity, approval of electrical drawings, and either arrival of 100% of required solar modules at the project site before the notification date or installation of more than 50% of required modules at the project site before the deadline.

All claims must be submitted by renewable energy developers via the portal developed by the National Institute of Solar Energy, in the required format, by June 30, 2026.

Claims will be examined by an expert committee to recommend project-wise, case-by-case claims based on the documents submitted by developers. The committee may also conduct field inspections where necessary.

Consumers under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana may opt to forgo central financial assistance through the ‘Give It Up’ campaign, enabling broader access to the program.

Residential net-metering consumers opting for ‘Give It Up’ will continue to be governed by the PM Surya Ghar guidelines until the end of the scheme, March 31, 2027, and must apply only through the national PM Surya Ghar portal.

Recently, MNRE discontinued the provision that allowed installation submissions containing duplicate entries of solar module or inverter serial numbers to be submitted based on a vendor undertaking under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.

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