- SECI and NTPC tenders almost always need ALMM List-I modules; DCR applies only when the scheme mandates it.
- The ALMM clause sits in technical specs; the DCR clause sits in the domestic-content section.
- The CPSU scheme generally needs domestic module and cell, proven by a DCR certificate (verify).
- A non-compliant module after award can cost you LD, PBG encashment or termination (per tender).
- The List-II cell mandate (~1 Jun 2026) is litigated — confirm whether it was deferred, status as of 20 Jun 2026.
- Always read the official tender document and current corrigenda — summaries like this one are not permanent rules.
SECI tender ALMM DCR compliance is where many strong bids quietly fail. SECI, NTPC and CPSU tenders set strict module rules, and a single non-compliant module can sink a whole award. This guide shows you how to read the ALMM and DCR clauses before you bid — where each clause sits, how to tell a DCR tender from an ALMM-only one, what traceability inspectors check, and what you risk if a module fails the check after award.
One warning first. Tender clauses and corrigenda change often, and several rules are litigated. Treat every date and figure below as point-in-time. Always read the official tender document and its current corrigenda, not this summary, as the rule you must follow.
Do SECI and NTPC tenders require ALMM and DCR?
Most SECI and NTPC government-linked tenders require ALMM List-I modules, but DCR applies only when the scheme mandates domestic content. ALMM and DCR are two separate rules, and a tender can ask for one without the other.
ALMM is the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers run by MNRE. To use a module in most government-linked projects, the exact model number must sit on ALMM List-I — not just the brand. DCR is the Domestic Content Requirement: the module and its cells must be made in India, proven by a DCR certificate from the NISE DCR portal.
A module can be on ALMM List-I and still not be DCR. So an ALMM-only SECI tender accepts any enlisted model, while a DCR tender accepts only domestically made modules and cells with the certificate. Read each tender on its own — the requirement shifts from one round to the next.
Where in a tender is the ALMM/DCR clause?
In a SECI tender, the ALMM clause usually sits in the technical specifications or module eligibility section, and the DCR clause sits in the domestic-content section. The penalty for non-compliance sits in a separate bank-guarantee and liquidated-damages clause.
Read these sections in order
Start with the eligibility and technical-spec section to find the ALMM rule and the BIS rule. Then read the domestic-content section to see whether DCR applies and whether the List-II cell rule is invoked. Finally, read the inspection, bank-guarantee and termination clauses to learn what happens if a module fails.
Corrigenda can move the rule
A clause you read on day one can be amended later by a corrigendum. Always check the corrigenda list and read the latest version. The current tender version overrides any earlier summary.
What is the CPSU scheme DCR requirement?
The CPSU scheme, also called the Government Producer scheme or Phase-II VGF scheme, generally requires domestically made modules and cells proven by a DCR certificate. It is built to push demand toward Indian manufacturing, so domestic content sits at its core.
The exact slab, the eligible content and the proof rules are set by MNRE and revised often. Some rounds tie the viability-gap funding to a domestic-content milestone. Do not treat any single figure as permanent. Confirm the current requirement against the live tender and the latest MNRE scheme order before you bid.
For a wider view of which schemes carry DCR and which do not, see our guide on which projects must use ALMM and DCR.
How do you tell a DCR tender from an ALMM-only tender?
Read the domestic-content clause — that is where the two split. A DCR tender demands modules and cells made in India with a NISE DCR certificate. An ALMM-only tender just needs the model on ALMM List-I, with no domestic-cell proof.
The quick test
Ask one question of the tender: does it require a DCR certificate? If yes, you must source DCR modules, which are a smaller and pricier pool. If the tender only names ALMM List-I and BIS, you can use any enlisted module, DCR or not. A model can be on List-I but not DCR, so never assume an ALMM model also clears DCR.
What module traceability does a CPSU tender demand?
A CPSU tender usually demands module serial numbers, RFID or QR records and certificates that trace each module back to its ALMM listing and, for DCR, to the cell origin. Inspectors check these records at commissioning.
What inspectors match
Modules carry an RFID or QR tag and a serial number. The inspector reads the serial, checks it against the ALMM database, and confirms the model is enlisted. For a DCR job, the inspector also wants paperwork that ties the module to Indian-made cells. If the serial does not match a live ALMM record, the module fails.
Keep the records from day one
Capture every module serial at goods-in, store the certificates, and keep them linked to the project. If you cannot produce a clean serial-to-ALMM trail at inspection, you carry the risk — even if the module is genuinely fine. Confirm the exact records the live tender requires before you order.
What happens if a module is non-compliant after award?
If a supplied module fails the ALMM or DCR check after award, the tender can trigger rejection, replacement at your cost, liquidated damages, encashment of the performance bank guarantee, or termination. The exact exposure is written into the tender.
This is why the penalty clause matters as much as the spec clause. A module that slips off the live ALMM list between order and commissioning, or a serial that fails the database check, can turn a profitable job into a loss. Read the bank-guarantee and termination clauses closely, and price the risk into your bid.
For how to write matching protection into your own deals, see EPC contract ALMM/DCR clauses.
How do corrigenda change the compliance clause?
A corrigendum can change the ALMM or DCR requirement, the eligible models, the deadline or the penalty after a tender is published. The latest corrigendum overrides the original clause, so the current version is the only rule that counts.
Many bidders read the first tender PDF and stop there. That is a mistake. SECI and NTPC issue corrigenda right up to bid submission, and a late corrigendum can flip a DCR rule or change the List-II cell deadline. Check the corrigenda list every time before you finalise the bid BOM.
How do you build a compliant bid BOM?
Build the bid BOM straight from the live tender clause, not from habit. List the ALMM, DCR, BIS and traceability rules first, then pick only modules that clear every rule on the day you order.
A simple workflow
- Read the latest tender version and every corrigendum.
- Confirm whether the tender needs DCR or only ALMM List-I.
- Check each candidate model on the live ALMM list by exact model number.
- For DCR, confirm a valid NISE DCR certificate and Indian-made cells.
- Confirm BIS registration under the current QCO.
- Plan the serial and RFID capture you will show at inspection.
Our deeper guide on building a compliant BOM walks through procurement controls that keep a non-compliant module out of the order.
Common tender-compliance mistakes
Most failures are avoidable. Watch for these patterns when you bid on SECI, NTPC and CPSU work.
- Checking the brand, not the model — ALMM enlists exact model numbers, not whole brands.
- Assuming ALMM means DCR — a List-I model is not automatically DCR; confirm the certificate.
- Skipping the corrigenda — a late corrigendum can change the rule you bid on.
- Ignoring the List-II cell rule — the cell-origin mandate (~1 Jun 2026) is litigated; confirm whether it was deferred, status as of 20 Jun 2026.
- No serial trail — without clean serial-to-ALMM records, you fail inspection even with good modules.
- Not pricing the penalty — read the PBG and LD clauses and build the risk into your bid.
Reading a tender compliance clause
Use this card as a checklist when you open a new SECI, NTPC or CPSU tender. It maps each rule to where it usually sits and what to verify against the live document.
Reference checklist, not legal advice — clauses vary by tender. Source: always read the official tender document and its current corrigenda.
How SuryaHub helps
SuryaHub keeps your bid BOM, module serials and compliance documents in one place, so the model you bid is the model you order and the model you can prove at inspection. Our procurement and inventory module tracks each module by serial, and our government workflows module keeps the tender, DCR and inspection paperwork linked to the project. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; the only real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and the rules here are scheme facts to verify, not guarantees.
Bid what you can prove
See how SuryaHub ties every module serial to the ALMM and DCR clause.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Do SECI and NTPC tenders require ALMM and DCR?+
Most SECI and NTPC government-linked tenders require ALMM List-I modules, but DCR is required only when the scheme mandates domestic content. ALMM and DCR are separate rules. Always read the live tender document and current corrigenda, because the exact requirement changes from one tender to the next.
Where in a SECI tender is the ALMM and DCR clause?+
The ALMM clause usually sits in the technical specifications or module eligibility section, and the DCR clause sits in the domestic content section of a SECI tender. Both can be amended by corrigenda. Always read the official tender document and current corrigenda, not a summary, before you bid.
What is the CPSU scheme DCR requirement?+
The CPSU scheme, also called the Government Producer scheme, generally requires domestically made modules and cells proven by a DCR certificate. The exact slab and rules are set by MNRE and revised often. Confirm the current requirement against the live tender and the latest MNRE scheme order before bidding.
How do you tell a DCR tender from an ALMM-only tender?+
Read the domestic content clause. A DCR tender demands modules and cells made in India with a NISE DCR certificate. An ALMM-only tender just needs the model on ALMM List-I. A module can be on List-I but not DCR, so confirm against the live tender document.
What module traceability does a CPSU tender demand?+
A CPSU tender usually demands module serial numbers, RFID or QR records and certificates that trace each module back to the ALMM listing and, for DCR, to the cell origin. Inspectors check these at commissioning. Confirm the exact traceability records the live tender requires before you order modules.
What happens if a module is non-compliant after award?+
If a supplied module fails the ALMM or DCR check after award, the tender can trigger rejection, replacement at your cost, liquidated damages, encashment of the performance bank guarantee, or termination. The exact exposure is set by the tender. Confirm the penalty clauses in the live tender document before bidding.
How do corrigenda change a tender compliance clause?+
A corrigendum can change the ALMM or DCR requirement, the eligible models, the deadline or the penalty after a tender is published. The latest corrigendum overrides the original clause. Always read every corrigendum and treat the current tender version, not an early summary, as the rule you must follow.
Sources & references
The clause locations and module rules below come from primary government sources. Tender clauses are point-in-time and change often, so always read the official tender document and its current corrigenda, and verify every date and figure against the current source.
- Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) ↗
Live tenders, RfS documents and corrigenda — verify the exact tender URL and current version.
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) ↗
ALMM orders and the CPSU / Government Producer scheme guidelines — verify the current order.
- Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) ↗
IS 14286 module certification under the compulsory registration scheme — verify the current QCO.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MNRE, SECI & BIS sources · updated 20 June 2026.
Method: Clause locations and module rules are taken from the government sources above and re-checked every 30 days. Tender clauses and corrigenda are point-in-time; always read the official tender document. The List-II cell mandate is litigated — confirm whether it was deferred, status as of 20 Jun 2026. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 20 Jun 2026 — first published.