TL;DR
- ALMM = the approved list of modules and cells, run by MNRE.
- DCR = a rule that module and cells are made in India, proven by a NISE certificate.
- ALMM-listed is not the same as DCR — a module can be on the list but not DCR.
- List-I is modules, List-II is cells, List-III (planned ~2028) is wafers.
- Every date-bearing term is point-in-time — verify against the current MNRE order.
The ALMM DCR glossary below puts every compliance word an EPC or homeowner meets into plain
English. No jargon, no legalese. Use it to read an order, check a BOM, or train a new hire on
the language of module compliance in a single sitting.
How to use this glossary
Read the core terms first, then dip into the rest as you need them. Each definition is short
and self-contained, so you can scan for one word without reading the whole page. Where a term
carries a date — like the List-II mandate — we flag it as point-in-time.
These definitions stay evergreen, but the rules behind them move. ALMM lists, effective dates
and DCR slabs are set by MNRE and revised often, and several are litigated. Always confirm any
date or slab against the current MNRE order, the live ALMM list, NISE or BIS.
Core terms: ALMM and DCR
Start here. These four terms — ALMM, DCR, List-I and List-II — carry most of the meaning in
module compliance. Get these clear and the rest of the page reads easily.
ALMM and DCR glossary, 40 terms defined in plain English | Term | Plain-English meaning |
| ALMM | Approved List of Models and Manufacturers — the MNRE list of solar modules cleared for most government-linked projects. A model must be enlisted to qualify. |
| DCR | Domestic Content Requirement — a rule that the module and its cells are made in India. Proven by a DCR certificate from the NISE portal. |
| List-I | The ALMM list of approved modules. A module is enlisted by its exact model number, not just by brand name. |
| List-II | The ALMM list of approved solar cells. Under the cell mandate, the cells inside a module must come from an enlisted Indian maker (date litigated, verify). |
| List-III | The planned ALMM list of approved wafers and ingots, expected around 2028. Verify the timeline against current MNRE orders. |
| Cell | The small silicon unit that converts sunlight to electricity. Many cells are joined to make one module. |
| Module | The full solar panel — many cells sealed in glass and a frame. ALMM List-I enlists modules. |
| Wafer | A thin slice of silicon used to make a cell. Wafers and ingots are the focus of the planned List-III. |
| Ingot | A block of silicon that is sliced into wafers. An upstream input in the solar supply chain. |
| Model number | The exact code that identifies one module variant. ALMM enlists by model number, so the nameplate must match the list. |
| Enlistment | The act of getting a model or cell added to an ALMM list. Only enlisted items qualify for covered projects. |
| Delisting | When a model is removed from an ALMM list. A delisted module can stall a project, so installers track list status. |
| BIS | Bureau of Indian Standards — the body behind module certification under IS 14286 and the Compulsory Registration Scheme. |
| IS 14286 | The Indian standard for solar module safety and quality, aligned with the international IEC test series. |
| IEC 61215 | An international test standard for module design qualification and type approval. Often paired with IS 14286. |
| CRS | Compulsory Registration Scheme — the BIS rule that a product be registered before it is sold in India. |
| QCO | Quality Control Order — a government order that makes a BIS standard mandatory for a product such as solar modules. |
| DCR certificate | The document from the NISE portal that proves a module and its cells are Indian-made, as DCR schemes require. |
| NISE | National Institute of Solar Energy — runs the DCR portal where DCR certificates are generated and verified. |
| RFID | A small chip embedded in a module that stores its identity. It supports traceability against the ALMM list. |
| QR code | A scannable code on a module that links to its serial and details, used to check the module against the list. |
| Serial number | The unique code for one physical module. Each serial should be traceable in ALMM records. |
| Chain of custody | The paper trail proving where the cells and module came from, used to prove List-II Indian-cell compliance. |
| BOM | Bill of Materials — the full list of components in a project. A compliant BOM uses only enlisted, eligible items. |
| Non-DCR module | A module that does not meet the Domestic Content Requirement. Usable for many C&I and open-access jobs, not for DCR schemes. |
| PM Surya Ghar | The residential rooftop subsidy scheme that requires DCR modules. A key reason DCR matters for installers. |
| PM-KUSUM | The agri-solar scheme for pumps and feeders, which carries its own ALMM and DCR conditions by component. |
| Net metering | The arrangement that credits rooftop solar export to the grid. Many DISCOMs require ALMM modules at approval. |
| DISCOM | The state electricity distribution company that approves net metering and runs many scheme steps on the ground. |
| BCD | Basic Customs Duty — the main import tax on solar cells and modules, which raises the landed cost of imports. |
| AIDC | Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess — an extra import charge added alongside BCD on solar goods. |
| Landed cost | The total cost to get a module into your warehouse, including duty, cess, GST and clearing. |
| HSN code | The tax classification code for a product, used to set the right GST rate on each BOM line. |
| RLMM | Revised List of Models and Manufacturers — the wind-turbine analogue of ALMM for wind and hybrid projects. |
| Grandfathering | A rule that lets a project follow the requirements that applied when it started, even if rules later change. Verify per order. |
| Open access | A route that lets large consumers buy power from a chosen generator, often with lighter DCR rules than subsidy schemes. |
| Group captive | A model where consumers own a share of the generating plant. It carries its own ALMM and DCR conditions. |
| Effective date | The date a rule starts to apply. Several ALMM and DCR dates are litigated, so confirm each against the current MNRE order. |
| Exemption window | A limited period when a rule is relaxed or deferred. Windows change often, so verify the current status with MNRE. |
| CFA | Central Financial Assistance — the central subsidy paid under schemes such as PM Surya Ghar, often tied to DCR compliance. |
Definitions are evergreen; date-bearing terms are point-in-time. Source: MNRE / NISE / BIS — verify current.
ALMM
Approved List of Models and Manufacturers — the MNRE list of solar modules cleared for most government-linked projects. A model must be enlisted to qualify.
DCR
Domestic Content Requirement — a rule that the module and its cells are made in India. Proven by a DCR certificate from the NISE portal.
List-I
The ALMM list of approved modules. A module is enlisted by its exact model number, not just by brand name.
List-II
The ALMM list of approved solar cells. Under the cell mandate, the cells inside a module must come from an enlisted Indian maker (date litigated, verify).
List-III
The planned ALMM list of approved wafers and ingots, expected around 2028. Verify the timeline against current MNRE orders.
Cell
The small silicon unit that converts sunlight to electricity. Many cells are joined to make one module.
Module
The full solar panel — many cells sealed in glass and a frame. ALMM List-I enlists modules.
Wafer
A thin slice of silicon used to make a cell. Wafers and ingots are the focus of the planned List-III.
Ingot
A block of silicon that is sliced into wafers. An upstream input in the solar supply chain.
Model number
The exact code that identifies one module variant. ALMM enlists by model number, so the nameplate must match the list.
Enlistment
The act of getting a model or cell added to an ALMM list. Only enlisted items qualify for covered projects.
Delisting
When a model is removed from an ALMM list. A delisted module can stall a project, so installers track list status.
BIS
Bureau of Indian Standards — the body behind module certification under IS 14286 and the Compulsory Registration Scheme.
IS 14286
The Indian standard for solar module safety and quality, aligned with the international IEC test series.
IEC 61215
An international test standard for module design qualification and type approval. Often paired with IS 14286.
CRS
Compulsory Registration Scheme — the BIS rule that a product be registered before it is sold in India.
QCO
Quality Control Order — a government order that makes a BIS standard mandatory for a product such as solar modules.
DCR certificate
The document from the NISE portal that proves a module and its cells are Indian-made, as DCR schemes require.
NISE
National Institute of Solar Energy — runs the DCR portal where DCR certificates are generated and verified.
RFID
A small chip embedded in a module that stores its identity. It supports traceability against the ALMM list.
QR code
A scannable code on a module that links to its serial and details, used to check the module against the list.
Serial number
The unique code for one physical module. Each serial should be traceable in ALMM records.
Chain of custody
The paper trail proving where the cells and module came from, used to prove List-II Indian-cell compliance.
BOM
Bill of Materials — the full list of components in a project. A compliant BOM uses only enlisted, eligible items.
Non-DCR module
A module that does not meet the Domestic Content Requirement. Usable for many C&I and open-access jobs, not for DCR schemes.
PM Surya Ghar
The residential rooftop subsidy scheme that requires DCR modules. A key reason DCR matters for installers.
PM-KUSUM
The agri-solar scheme for pumps and feeders, which carries its own ALMM and DCR conditions by component.
Net metering
The arrangement that credits rooftop solar export to the grid. Many DISCOMs require ALMM modules at approval.
DISCOM
The state electricity distribution company that approves net metering and runs many scheme steps on the ground.
BCD
Basic Customs Duty — the main import tax on solar cells and modules, which raises the landed cost of imports.
AIDC
Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess — an extra import charge added alongside BCD on solar goods.
Landed cost
The total cost to get a module into your warehouse, including duty, cess, GST and clearing.
HSN code
The tax classification code for a product, used to set the right GST rate on each BOM line.
RLMM
Revised List of Models and Manufacturers — the wind-turbine analogue of ALMM for wind and hybrid projects.
Grandfathering
A rule that lets a project follow the requirements that applied when it started, even if rules later change. Verify per order.
Open access
A route that lets large consumers buy power from a chosen generator, often with lighter DCR rules than subsidy schemes.
Group captive
A model where consumers own a share of the generating plant. It carries its own ALMM and DCR conditions.
Effective date
The date a rule starts to apply. Several ALMM and DCR dates are litigated, so confirm each against the current MNRE order.
Exemption window
A limited period when a rule is relaxed or deferred. Windows change often, so verify the current status with MNRE.
CFA
Central Financial Assistance — the central subsidy paid under schemes such as PM Surya Ghar, often tied to DCR compliance.
Date-bearing terms are point-in-time. Verify with MNRE / NISE / BIS.
The lists and the ladder
ALMM is built as a ladder of lists. List-I covers modules, List-II covers cells, and List-III
(planned, around 2028) will cover wafers and ingots. Each step pushes the domestic content
requirement deeper into the supply chain.
The List-II cell mandate, expected around June 2026, has faced deferment requests and court
proceedings, including at the Karnataka High Court. Do not treat its date as settled — confirm
whether it was deferred in the latest MNRE order, status as of 20 June 2026. The
full ladder is explained
here.
Certification and testing terms
ALMM is about whether a model is enlisted; BIS is about whether it is certified safe. They are
separate rules. A module needs BIS certification under IS 14286 and the Compulsory Registration
Scheme, and it must pass tests aligned with IEC 61215.
Mixing up ALMM and BIS is a common mistake. A module can pass BIS testing and still not be on
the ALMM list, and the reverse can also be true. See the
ALMM vs DCR vs BIS/CRS
comparison for how the three rules line up.
Traceability and proof terms
Compliance is only as good as the proof. RFID chips, QR codes and serial numbers let an
inspector trace a physical module back to the ALMM list. The DCR certificate and the chain of
custody prove the cells inside are Indian-made.
For DCR schemes, the chain of custody is what survives an audit. It links the cell maker to the
module maker to the installed serial. Our guide to
proving List-II
cell compliance walks through the paper trail.
Schemes and duty terms
DCR matters because schemes demand it. PM Surya Ghar requires DCR modules for the residential
subsidy, and PM-KUSUM carries its own conditions. On the cost side, BCD and AIDC raise the
landed cost of imported modules, which steers EPCs toward Indian content.
The duty terms tie straight to your BOM. A non-DCR imported module may carry both a high
import duty and a scheme
that bars it. For homeowners, this is why a
PM Surya Ghar installer uses DCR
modules.
Bodies and portals
A few institutions own these rules. MNRE owns ALMM and DCR policy. NISE runs the DCR portal.
BIS owns module certification. DISCOMs run net metering and many scheme steps in each state.
Knowing who owns what tells you where to verify a rule.
When a date or slab is unclear, go to the body that owns it. For ALMM and DCR dates, that is
MNRE. For DCR certificates, that is the NISE portal. For certification, that is BIS. Each is
listed in the sources below.
How SuryaHub helps you apply these terms
Knowing the words is step one; enforcing them on every job is the hard part. SuryaHub
procurement and inventory checks each module model
and serial against the rules these terms describe, so an off-list or non-DCR module is caught
before it reaches the roof. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; the only real pilots are Suryantra Energy
and RGESPL, and the definitions here follow MNRE, NISE and BIS sources.
Turn these rules into checks
See how SuryaHub enforces ALMM and DCR on every BOM line.
Book a Demo Frequently asked questions
What does ALMM mean in solar?+
ALMM means the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers, an MNRE list of solar modules cleared for most government-linked projects. A module must be enlisted by its exact model number to qualify for subsidy schemes, many tenders and net metering. ALMM is run by MNRE and updated over time.
What is the difference between ALMM and DCR?+
ALMM is a list of approved modules and cells, while DCR is a rule that the module and its cells are made in India. A module can be on the ALMM list but still not meet DCR. DCR is proven by a certificate from the NISE portal, and it is mandatory only where the scheme requires domestic content.
What is the NISE DCR portal?+
The NISE DCR portal is the government system run by the National Institute of Solar Energy where DCR certificates are generated and verified. The certificate proves a module and its cells are Indian-made. The portal address can change, so verify the current URL on the MNRE and NISE websites before you use it.
Are the dates in this glossary final?+
No. Several ALMM and DCR dates, including the List-II cell mandate and the planned List-III, are point-in-time and have faced deferment or court proceedings. Treat every date-bearing term as subject to change and confirm it against the current MNRE order before you rely on it for a project.
Is this glossary useful for homeowners too?+
Yes. This glossary defines ALMM and DCR terms in plain English, so homeowners can understand why a PM Surya Ghar installer uses DCR modules and what a model number or DCR certificate means. The same definitions help new EPC staff learn the compliance language quickly without jargon.
Sources & references
Definitions follow primary government sources. The rules behind them change often, so confirm any date or slab against the current MNRE order, the live ALMM list, NISE or BIS before you rely on it.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MNRE, NISE & BIS sources · updated 20 June 2026.
Method: Definitions are drawn from MNRE, NISE and BIS sources and re-checked regularly. Date-bearing terms are point-in-time; verify against the current MNRE order. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 20 Jun 2026 — first published.
