The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has clarified that residential rooftop solar consumers availing net metering under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana who choose the ‘Give It Up’ option are exempt from the applicability of the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II for solar cells only until March 31, 2027.

The exemption is subject to such applications being filed through the PM Surya Ghar national portal.

The Ministry also clarified that such projects do not need to apply separately on the National Institute of Solar Energy’s domestic content requirement portal to claim exemption from the ALMM List-II mandate.

According to the earlier memorandum, PM Surya Ghar consumers had the option to forgo Central Financial Assistance through the ‘Give It Up’ option so that the program’s benefits can reach a wider cross-section of consumers. It also stated that residential net-metering consumers who opt for the ‘Give It Up’ option will remain subject to the PM Surya Ghar guidelines until the end of the program, March 31, 2027.

MNRE said stakeholders had sought clarifications on whether consumers in the ‘Give It Up’ category under PM Surya Ghar are exempt from ALMM List-II for solar cells.

It clarified that other rooftop solar projects will not fall under the scope of this limited exemption and will be governed by the existing orders.

Recently, MNRE constituted an expert committee to examine applications for time extensions to commission net metering and open-access renewable energy projects beyond May 31, 2026, under the ALMM List-II mandate for solar cells. The applications will be examined on a case-by-case basis.

The ALMM mandate for solar cells took effect on June 1. All projects complying with ALMM for solar modules must use cells authorized under ALMM List-II.

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