PIB TrackerMNRE holds firm on ALMM for solar cells, but opens a limited exemption window to December 2026
The renewable-energy ministry reaffirmed that there is no change to the ALMM List-II (approved solar-cell) policy and no blanket extension, but gave a limited window — letting net-metering and open-access renewable projects commission with an ALMM List-II exemption until 31 December 2026.
What happened
- MNRE reaffirmed no change to the ALMM List-II (solar cells) policy and no blanket extension.
- But it opened a limited exemption window: net-metering and open-access RE projects can commission with an ALMM List-II exemption until 31 December 2026.
- ALMM List-I (solar PV modules) has applied since April 2021; List-II (solar PV cells) came into force on 1 June 2026.
- It requires projects to use cells from approved (largely domestic) manufacturers — promoting self-reliance and quality.
- The window cushions specific segments that need more time, without diluting the overall policy.
For Prelims
- ALMM: The Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (MNRE) — a whitelist of solar products/manufacturers usable in government-supported projects.
- List-I vs List-II: List-I = solar PV modules (since April 2021); List-II = solar PV cells (since 1 June 2026).
- Net metering: Lets a rooftop-solar user export surplus power to the grid and offset consumption; open access lets large consumers buy power directly.
- Why ALMM: To ensure quality and promote domestic manufacturing/self-reliance (and curb reliance on cheap imported cells, largely from China).
- Solar targets: India targets 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030; solar is the largest component.
- Value chain: Solar manufacturing runs polysilicon → wafers → cells → modules; India is building capacity across these stages (with PLI support).
For UPSC: A useful renewable-energy-and-industrial-policy item — balancing domestic solar-manufacturing self-reliance (ALMM) with keeping the clean-energy pipeline moving. Use it for solar manufacturing and the value chain, ALMM and domestic content, the 500 GW target, and import-substitution vs deployment trade-offs.
What it is NOT: This is a clarification providing a limited, time-bound exemption (for two project segments), not a rollback of ALMM or a blanket extension. The core ALMM List-II (cells) policy remains in force.
For Mains
Syllabus: GS3.9 · GS3.14 · Linkage L2
Anchor
Self-reliant clean energy — building domestic solar-cell manufacturing while sustaining deployment.
Substantiation (data)
MNRE keeps ALMM List-II (cells; in force since 1 June 2026) unchanged, no blanket extension, but allows net-metering and open-access RE projects an exemption till 31 Dec 2026; List-I (modules) since April 2021.
Exemplification
ALMM as a domestic-content/quality tool across the solar value chain (cells, modules), backed by PLI.
Problematisation
Balancing self-reliance with deployment pace and cost; ramping domestic cell capacity to meet demand and the 500 GW target.
Way-forward
Scale domestic cell/wafer manufacturing, phase compliance sensibly, and keep the renewable pipeline on track.
Position
A calibrated ALMM balances manufacturing self-reliance with the imperative of rapid clean-energy deployment.
Deploys into: Environment — energy infrastructure + clean energy (GS3.9, GS3.14) · solar manufacturing and the ALMM (List-I/II), domestic content and self-reliance, and India's 500 GW non-fossil target.
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy · 2026-07-18 · PRID 2286144 · PIB source ↗