- Pick the project type first — it decides which rules apply.
- Modules are gated by ALMM List-I model number plus BIS.
- Cells may need ALMM List-II; DCR only where the scheme asks.
- Verify every gated line against the live source before the PO.
- Capture model numbers, serials and RFID-QR from order to commissioning.
- List-II date (~1 Jun 2026) is litigated — verify the latest MNRE order.
A clean Bill of Materials is the difference between a project that passes and one that fails audit. Get the gated items right before you raise a purchase order, and every later check — inspection, subsidy claim, commissioning — goes smoothly. This is the per-line checklist.
What a compliant BOM actually is
A compliant BOM is a Bill of Materials where every regulated line item meets its rule and you can prove it. It is not just a parts list. It is a parts list plus the evidence that each gated item — module, cell, DCR content — sits on the right list and carries the right certificate.
The whole idea is simple. If a part is checked at inspection or subsidy claim, you confirm it at procurement, not after install. Fixing a wrong module on the roof costs weeks and money. Catching it before the PO costs a few minutes. That is the entire point of this page.
Which BOM items are gated, and by what
The gated items are modules, cells and DCR content; most other lines follow general BIS or IS standards. Knowing which line answers to which rule is step one.
Modules: ALMM List-I plus BIS
Solar modules are gated by ALMM List-I. The exact model you buy must appear on the live list, and the module must also carry valid BIS registration for the relevant standard. Both are required together for most subsidy and government work. Always check against the live ALMM list at NISE and the BIS database.
Cells: ALMM List-II where it applies
Solar cells are gated by ALMM List-II for relevant projects. List-II is newer and its effective date has been disputed. The roughly 1 June 2026 date has been litigated, so confirm whether it was deferred in the latest MNRE order and check its status as of 20 June 2026 against the current notification.
DCR content: only where the scheme says so
DCR (Domestic Content Requirement) applies only where a scheme or tender demands India-made cells and modules. Many ALMM List-I jobs do not need DCR at all. Read the scheme document, then confirm the DCR certificate matches the model you are buying.
Inverters, BOS and cables
Inverters, mounting, cables and protection are not on ALMM, but they still follow BIS and IS standards and your tender spec. Verify ratings and marks, but do not expect an ALMM listing for these lines.
Match the project type to the right requirement
The first move is to match the project type to its rule set, because the same module can be fine on one job and non-compliant on another. Pin this before you price anything.
Pin the project type first
Before you price anything, decide which rules apply. A subsidy or government tender often needs ALMM List-I, BIS and sometimes DCR. A private rooftop may need fewer. Confirm the rule with the tender or scheme document.
A government rooftop subsidy job usually needs ALMM List-I and BIS. A scheme with a DCR clause also needs India-made cells and modules with a DCR certificate. A purely private project may need fewer of these. When you are unsure which rule applies, read the tender, then check the applicability guide for how the requirement is decided.
How to verify each line item before the PO
You verify each gated line against its live source before the purchase order, never from memory or an old datasheet. The flow below is the same for every project.
Lock the exact model numbers
Quote modules by their full ALMM List-I model number, not a series name. Check that exact model on the live list at NISE before the PO. A near match is not a match.
Verify each gated line
For every gated item, confirm its status against the live source: List-I for modules, List-II for cells where needed, BIS registration, and DCR certificate where the scheme demands it.
Capture evidence at order time
Save the model number, enrolment ID, BIS number and any DCR certificate against the PO. Evidence captured at order is far easier than chasing it at commissioning.
Carry it through to commissioning
Match supplier invoice, delivery, installed serial numbers and RFID-QR back to the PO. The serial on the roof must trace to the compliant model you bought.
The trap is the model number. Suppliers quote a series name like a marketing label, but ALMM lists each exact model. Buy the full model number that is actually on the live list. Our guide on checking the ALMM list shows how to find a model and read its enrolment status.
What evidence to capture for each line
Capture the proof at order time, because evidence is cheap to record at the PO and painful to chase at commissioning. For each gated line, save the identifiers that an auditor will ask for.
- Modules — exact model number, ALMM List-I enrolment ID and BIS registration number.
- Cells — cell maker, List-II reference where it applies, and batch or lot record.
- DCR jobs — the DCR certificate, with the model number matching the BOM line.
- Serials and RFID-QR — recorded at delivery and again at install on the roof.
- Supplier invoice — naming the same model numbers as your purchase order.
Capturing serials and RFID-QR codes matters because they are the physical link between the compliant model you bought and the panel sitting on the roof. Without that link, an auditor cannot trust that the installed part is the one you certified.
The per-line-item BOM compliance checklist
This table is the heart of the page. It maps each common BOM line to its gating rule, what to check before the PO, and the evidence to keep. Use it as a row-by-row gate.
Table is a working aid, not legal advice. Verify every rule, list and date against the current MNRE order, the live ALMM list at NISE and the BIS registration database before you procure. Source: MNRE ALMM orders, NISE list and BIS standards (see Sources below).
Chain of custody from invoice to commissioning
Chain of custody is the unbroken paper trail that proves the part you bought is the part you installed. It runs from supplier invoice through delivery to the serial on the roof.
Start at the supplier invoice: it must name the same exact model numbers as your PO. At delivery, record serial numbers and RFID-QR codes against the BOM. At install, record the serials again as they go on the roof. Each step must point back to the compliant model on your order.
Why the chain breaks
The chain usually breaks when a supplier ships a different batch, or when serials are never recorded. If the panel on the roof cannot be traced to a compliant model, the project can fail audit even when the BOM looked right on paper. For cells, our List-II chain-of-custody guide goes deeper on proving cell origin.
Where BOMs fail audit — and how to avoid it
Most BOM failures trace to a handful of avoidable errors. Watch for these on every project.
- Series name, not model number — the exact model is what ALMM lists; quote that.
- Stale list check — a model can drop off; verify against the live list at PO, not last month.
- Missing BIS — an ALMM-listed module still needs valid BIS registration.
- Assuming DCR or List-II — only apply them where the scheme actually requires them.
- No serials captured — without serials and RFID-QR, the chain of custody breaks.
- Invoice model mismatch — the supplier invoice must name the same models as the PO.
For a single reusable form that covers all of this, see the compliance checklist template. To confirm a DCR claim is genuine, see DCR certificate verification.
A reusable per-project checklist
Turn the steps above into one form you run on every project, so nothing depends on memory. Here is the short version to copy.
- Step 1 — confirm the project type and which rules apply (ALMM, BIS, List-II, DCR).
- Step 2 — list each module by its exact ALMM List-I model number.
- Step 3 — verify each gated line on the live source before the PO.
- Step 4 — capture model numbers, enrolment IDs, BIS numbers and any DCR certificate.
- Step 5 — at delivery and install, record serials and RFID-QR and tie them to the PO.
- Step 6 — check the supplier invoice names the same models, and file all evidence together.
Run the same six steps every time and your BOM stays audit-ready by default. The goal is a habit, not a one-off heroic check.
How SuryaHub helps you keep BOMs compliant
Compliance fails when evidence is scattered across spreadsheets, emails and a supplier WhatsApp. SuryaHub aims to hold model numbers, ALMM and BIS references, serials and RFID-QR against each PO and project in procurement and inventory, so the proof sits in one place from order to commissioning. It also connects to government workflows for the claim steps and finance and GST where invoices matter. SuryaHub is pre-revenue and these features are on the roadmap; real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and figures here are scheme facts, not guarantees.
Keep every BOM audit-ready
See how SuryaHub ties model numbers, serials and certificates to each PO.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What makes a solar BOM ALMM-compliant?+
A solar BOM is ALMM-compliant when every gated line item meets its rule. Modules must sit on ALMM List-I by their exact model number and carry valid BIS registration. Cells may need ALMM List-II for relevant projects, and DCR applies where the scheme requires it. Verify each line against the live source before the PO.
Which items on a solar BOM are gated by ALMM?+
On a solar BOM, modules are gated by ALMM List-I and cells by ALMM List-II for relevant projects. Modules also need BIS registration, and DCR content applies where the scheme requires it. Inverters, mounting, cables and protection follow BIS and IS standards rather than ALMM. Confirm each rule against the current MNRE order.
How do I verify a module model number before a PO?+
To verify a module before a PO, search the exact full model number on the live ALMM List-I at NISE, not a series name. Confirm the model is currently listed and that BIS registration is valid. A near match is not a match. Save the List-I enrolment ID and BIS number against the purchase order as evidence.
Does every solar project need DCR on the BOM?+
No, not every solar project needs DCR. DCR, or Domestic Content Requirement, applies only where a specific scheme or tender demands India-made cells and modules. Many ALMM List-I jobs do not need DCR. Match the project type to its rule first, and confirm against the scheme document before you procure.
What evidence should I capture for a compliant BOM?+
For a compliant BOM, capture the exact model number, ALMM List-I enrolment ID, BIS registration number, any List-II cell reference and the DCR certificate where required. At delivery and commissioning, record installed serial numbers and RFID-QR codes and trace them back to the PO and supplier invoice.
Is the ALMM List-II date for cells in effect now?+
The ALMM List-II date for cells, around 1 June 2026, has been litigated, so confirm whether it was deferred in the latest MNRE order. Check its status as of 20 June 2026 against the current MNRE notification and the live ALMM list before you assume List-II applies to your project.
How does SuryaHub help build a compliant BOM?+
SuryaHub aims to hold model numbers, ALMM and BIS references, serials and RFID-QR against each PO and project, so compliance evidence sits in one place from procurement to commissioning. SuryaHub is pre-revenue and these features are on the roadmap; real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL.
Sources & references
The gating rules, lists and standards on this page come from primary government sources. Lists and effective dates change — always confirm the current position against the MNRE order, the live ALMM list at NISE and the BIS database before you procure. For customs or GST questions, confirm with a customs broker or chartered accountant and the current CBIC notification.
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) ↗
ALMM orders, List-I and List-II notifications and effective dates.
- National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) ↗
The live ALMM list and model-level enrolment data.
- Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) ↗
Module safety and performance standards and the registration database.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MNRE, NISE & BIS sources · updated 20 June 2026.
Method: Gating rules, lists and standards are taken from the government sources above and re-checked every 30 days. Dates and slabs are point-in-time — verify against the current MNRE order, the live ALMM list and the BIS database. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots, and AI features are on the roadmap.
Change log: 20 Jun 2026 — first published.