- ALMM decides which modules (List-I) and cells (List-II) you may use; DCR decides what must be made in India.
- The List-II cell mandate lands in 2026 — confirm the live date, it has faced deferment and litigation.
- DCR jobs need a DCR certificate from the NISE portal; ALMM-listed is not the same as DCR.
- Check the exact model number, not the brand, before every order — a wrong module can get a job rejected.
- All dates, lists and capacities are set by MNRE and revised often — verify against the current order.
ALMM and DCR are the two rules that decide whether the modules you buy can legally go on a roof. Get them wrong and a project loses its subsidy, fails net metering, or gets the EPC blacklisted. This guide explains the ALMM list and DCR from the installer's side: the lists, the 2026 cell mandate, the certificates, and how to keep a bill of materials compliant.
What ALMM and DCR mean for an EPC
ALMM is the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers — MNRE's master list of solar hardware that is allowed in government-linked projects. DCR, the Domestic Content Requirement, is a separate rule that the module and its cells must be made in India. Most subsidy and many tender jobs require both, and they are not the same thing.
For you, the installer, these rules decide procurement. The module you quote must be ALMM-listed by exact model, and for a DCR job it must also carry a valid DCR certificate. If the wrong module reaches the site, the DISCOM can refuse net metering and the scheme can deny the subsidy — after you have already paid for the hardware.
Why the installer carries this risk
Most ALMM and DCR content online is written for policy readers. Your reality is different. You place the bill-of-materials order, you sign the net-metering and subsidy paperwork, and you are the one exposed if a module gets a project rejected. That makes ALMM and DCR a procurement-control problem, not a policy one.
List I, List II and List III
ALMM is built as a ladder of lists, each pushing the domestic requirement deeper into the supply chain. Knowing which list applies — and when — is the core of staying compliant.
Read the full ladder in our List I, II and III guide, and start with what the ALMM list is if the regime is new to you.
DCR vs non-DCR modules
A DCR module is made in India end to end, down to the cell, and carries a DCR certificate; a non-DCR module may use imported cells. The two cost differently and are allowed in different jobs, so quoting the wrong one breaks either the budget or the compliance.
Where each is allowed
DCR modules are mandatory where the scheme demands domestic content — most importantly PM Surya Ghar residential subsidy jobs. Non-DCR modules remain usable for many commercial and open-access projects. Whether non-DCR is allowed at all is the question behind "is non-DCR banned in 2026?" — the short answer is no, but only outside DCR-tagged schemes.
The 2026 List-II cell mandate
The List-II cell mandate is the biggest change of 2026: the cells inside an ALMM module must themselves come from an enlisted Indian cell maker. It pushes the approved-list rule one layer deeper and squeezes a supply chain that still imports many cells.
Why it matters for procurement
Until now, a List-I module was enough. Under List-II, you also need proof that the cells are compliant — a chain of custody from the cell maker to your project. With domestic cell capacity still ramping, this can mean shortages and price moves, especially for TOPCon. Read the full List-II mandate guide and how to prove cell compliance.
The live date is not settled
The List-II effective date has faced deferment requests and court proceedings, so treat any date you read — including in this hub — as something to confirm against the latest MNRE order. If your project cannot get compliant cells in time, look at the exemption filing process before you assume the worst.
How to check a module before you buy
Always verify the exact model number against the live list, not just the brand — a maker can have both listed and unlisted models. For a DCR job, add two checks: the DCR certificate and the module's serial against its RFID or QR record.
The three checks
First, confirm the model on the ALMM List-I. Second, for a DCR job, verify the DCR certificate on the NISE portal. Third, match the physical module — our guides on spotting fake or relabelled panels and fixing a "serial not found" error cover what to do when the hardware does not match the paperwork.
Keeping a bill of materials compliant
Compliance fails at the BOM, so the fix is to check every bill of materials before the order goes out, not after the modules arrive. That means a known-good list of compliant models, a supplier who shares ALMM numbers and the cell chain, and the evidence filed with the project.
Our BOM-compliance guide and the module-sourcing worksheet show how to make this a routine. When a supplier cannot deliver compliant cells, the supplier-shortfall guide has the options.
Why compliance varies by DISCOM
ALMM and DCR are national rules, but how a DISCOM checks them at net metering varies by state. Some DISCOMs scrutinise the ALMM model and DCR certificate closely at approval; others check later. A module that clears in one state can still stall a job in another.
That is why this hub carries a state guide for each major DISCOM, from Maharashtra (MSEDCL) to Karnataka (BESCOM) and beyond. When ALMM or DCR blocks an approval, the net-metering rejection guide maps the fix.
The deadlines to track
ALMM and DCR run on hard dates — the List-II effective date, extension-submission windows, grandfathering cutoffs and the planned List-III for 2028. Missing one can strand a project on the wrong side of a rule change.
Keep the moving dates in view with the 2026–27 deadlines calendar, and if a job's commissioning slips past a cutoff, check the grandfathering rules before you panic. Confirm every date against the latest MNRE order, because these move.
The complete ALMM & DCR hub
This pillar is the overview. The full topic is broken into focused guides below — each written for the EPC, grouped into clusters. Start with the rules, the List-II mandate, and how to check a module.
Start here — the rules
The compliance regime, in plain words.
The List-II cell mandate
The 2026 domestic-cell rule and how to clear it.
List-III & future-proofing
What is coming in 2028.
Check & verify
Confirm every module before you buy.
Read the hardware
What the specs and tests actually mean.
Procurement & BOM
Buy compliant without blowing the budget.
Cost, duty & price
What compliance does to your numbers.
By scheme & segment
The rule changes with the scheme.
Open access, captive & C&I
The C&I edge cases and exemptions.
Scope: net metering, inverters & wind
Where ALMM stops and starts.
Comparisons
Tell the look-alike rules apart.
When it goes wrong
Fix rejections, delistings and delays.
Penalties, contracts & bankability
Protect the contract and the balance sheet.
Operate by state
DCR & ALMM checks vary by DISCOM.
Manufacturers & enlistment
For makers and brand-led EPCs.
Deadlines & warranty
The dates and duties to track.
Reference & templates
Look-it-up and grab-and-go.
How SuryaHub runs ALMM & DCR compliance
SuryaHub is the operating system for solar EPCs. It checks each bill of materials against the approved lists and the DCR rule before an order is placed, and keeps the compliance evidence — the ALMM model, the DCR certificate, the serials — with the project file. The procurement and BOM controls live in the procurement & inventory module, alongside government workflows for the subsidy and net-metering paperwork.
SuryaHub is pre-revenue; real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and any performance figures are early estimates, not guarantees. The ALMM and DCR facts on this page come from government sources and should always be confirmed against the current MNRE order, because the lists and dates change.
Check every BOM before you order
Bring a live project. We'll show the ALMM & DCR check on your real BOM.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the ALMM list for solar?+
The ALMM list is the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers that MNRE maintains for solar. List-I covers approved modules, and a model must be enlisted before it can be used in most government-linked projects, including subsidy and net-metering jobs. From 2026 a second list, List-II, requires the cells inside the module to come from an enlisted maker too. Always confirm the current lists on the MNRE portal.
What is the difference between ALMM and DCR?+
ALMM is the approved-list rule that decides which modules and cells may be used. DCR, or Domestic Content Requirement, is a separate rule that the module and its cells must be made in India, proven by a DCR certificate from the NISE portal. A module can be ALMM-listed but still not DCR, so subsidy and DCR-tagged jobs need both. Always verify both against the current orders.
Is non-DCR banned in 2026?+
Non-DCR modules are not banned outright in 2026, but they cannot be used where the scheme requires DCR, such as PM Surya Ghar residential subsidy jobs. Non-DCR modules remain usable for many commercial and open-access projects that do not carry a domestic-content condition. The exact rule depends on the scheme and the date, so confirm the current requirement before you quote.
What is the ALMM List-II cell mandate?+
The ALMM List-II cell mandate requires that the solar cells inside an enlisted module also come from an enlisted Indian cell maker. It pushes the approved-list rule one layer deeper into the supply chain and takes effect in 2026, subject to extension and exemption provisions. The effective date has faced deferment requests and litigation, so always confirm the live date in the latest MNRE order.
How do I check if a solar module is ALMM-listed?+
To check if a solar module is ALMM-listed, find the exact model number on the MNRE ALMM List-I and match it to the maker and the enlisted capacity. For a DCR job, also verify the DCR certificate on the NISE portal and the module serial against its RFID or QR record. Checking the precise model, not just the brand, prevents a rejection later. Always use the live MNRE and NISE portals.
How does SuryaHub help with ALMM and DCR compliance?+
SuryaHub checks each bill of materials against the approved lists and the DCR rule before an order is placed, and keeps the compliance evidence with the project file. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL. The ALMM and DCR figures on this page are regulatory facts from government sources, not guarantees, and dates change with each MNRE order.
Sources & references
The facts on this page — the lists, the DCR rule and the certification path — come from MNRE orders and the NISE and BIS portals. ALMM lists, effective dates and capacities change with each MNRE revision, so always confirm the current figures before you order or quote.
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) ↗
The ALMM orders, List-I and List-II notifications and effective dates.
- NISE DCR portal ↗
The official portal for generating and verifying DCR certificates.
- Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) ↗
The IS 14286 / compulsory registration scheme for solar modules.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MNRE, NISE & BIS sources · updated 20 June 2026.
Method: Regulatory figures are taken from the government sources above and re-checked every 30 days. ALMM lists, effective dates and capacities change with each MNRE order and are labelled as such. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 20 Jun 2026 — first published.