- The ALMM list I II III difference is supply-chain depth: module, then cell, then wafer.
- List-I approves the module model by exact model number (in force — verify).
- List-II approves the cells inside the module (around 2026, date litigated — verify).
- List-III approves wafers and ingots (planned around 2028 — verify).
- DCR and BIS are separate rules — ALMM-listed is not the same as DCR.
- RLMM is the wind-turbine version of ALMM.
India is tightening solar compliance one layer at a time. The ALMM list I II III difference is simply how deep into the supply chain each list reaches: first the module, then the cell inside it, then the wafer and ingot inside the cell. This page maps the whole ladder for 2026–2028 in plain words, and shows where DCR and BIS fit beside it.
What is the ALMM list I II III difference?
The ALMM list I II III difference is the depth of the supply chain each list approves. List-I approves the finished module. List-II approves the cells inside that module. List-III, planned later, would approve the wafers and ingots inside the cell. Each step pushes the "made in India" requirement one layer deeper.
ALMM stands for the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers, run by the MNRE — see the ALMM & DCR hub. Think of the three lists as rungs on a ladder. You start at the top with the module, and India keeps adding lower rungs to require more of the panel to be built at home.
Why does ALMM use a ladder of lists?
ALMM uses a ladder because a module can be assembled in India from imported parts. Listing only the module still leaves the cells, wafers and ingots coming from abroad. So MNRE adds lower rungs over time to move the value, and the jobs, into the country step by step.
The same idea, applied deeper each year
The logic of each list is the same. A part must come from an enlisted Indian maker. The lists only differ in which part they cover: module, cell, or wafer. Knowing this makes the whole system easy to follow — it is one rule, applied at three depths.
List-I — approved modules (in force)
List-I approves the solar module itself, and it is the rung that is in force today. A module model must be enlisted on List-I by its exact model number to be used in most government-linked projects — subsidy work, many tenders, and net metering.
Brand alone is not enough. A maker can have some models on List-I and others not. You must match the exact model number from the datasheet against the live list. For the full mechanics, see ALMM List-I explained.
Where List-I bites
List-I decides whether a panel can be used at all on a scheme-linked job. A delisted or unlisted model can fail a net-metering or subsidy file even after the panel is on the roof. That is why List-I is the first check on every BOM.
List-II — approved cells (around 2026, litigated)
List-II approves the solar cells inside the module, and it is the next rung down. It requires the cells to come from an enlisted Indian maker, not just the module. This pushes the domestic requirement past the module and into the cell.
The List-II mandate is tied to a trigger around 2026, often cited as around 1 June 2026. But that date faced deferment requests and court proceedings, including a Karnataka High Court matter. Confirm whether it was deferred in the latest MNRE order, status as of 20 Jun 2026, before you treat any List-II date as settled. The full rule is in the List-II cell mandate guide.
What List-II changes for buyers
List-II means you can no longer just check the module. You must also check the cell source and keep papers that tie the cells to the finished module. The commissioning date, not the order date, usually decides which rule applies.
List-III — approved wafers and ingots (planned around 2028)
List-III approves the wafers and ingots inside the cell, and it is the deepest planned rung. It would require the wafers and ingots to come from enlisted Indian makers too. List-III is planned to start around 2028 — verify this against the current MNRE order.
List-III is the future rung, not a live rule yet. It signals where India wants the whole supply chain to be by the end of the decade: module, cell and wafer all made at home. For the timeline and what to plan for, see List-III wafers & ingots.
The full ALMM compliance ladder at a glance
Here is the whole ladder in one matrix — module to cell to wafer. Caption and source line below. Treat every effective date as point-in-time and verify it against the current MNRE order.
Source: built from MNRE ALMM orders for List-I, List-II and List-III. Every effective date is point-in-time — List-II is litigated and List-III is planned. Verify all three dates against the current MNRE order. Status as of 20 Jun 2026.
Where does DCR sit alongside the ALMM ladder?
DCR sits beside the ALMM ladder as a separate rule, not a rung on it. DCR stands for Domestic Content Requirement: the module and its cells must be made in India, proven by a DCR certificate from the NISE DCR portal. ALMM-listed is not the same as DCR.
A module can be on List-I but not be DCR. DCR is mandatory only where the scheme requires domestic content — most importantly the PM Surya Ghar residential subsidy. You generate and verify the certificate on the NISE DCR portal (verify the live URL). For when each applies, see DCR vs non-DCR panels and the PM Surya Ghar hub.
ALMM and DCR overlap but are not equal
ALMM and DCR both push for Indian content, so they often go together. But they are checked differently — ALMM by the list, DCR by the certificate — so you confirm each on its own. Never assume a DCR module from an ALMM listing, or the reverse.
Where does BIS sit in all this?
BIS sits as a third, separate rule about safety and quality, not domestic sourcing. The Bureau of Indian Standards runs the IS 14286 compulsory registration scheme (CRS / QCO). A module needs a valid BIS registration to prove it meets the standard.
So a single module can carry three checks at once: an ALMM listing, a DCR certificate where required, and a BIS registration. They answer different questions. ALMM asks where it is made, DCR proves domestic content, and BIS proves it is safe and tested. See all three together in ALMM vs DCR vs BIS.
What is RLMM and how is it different?
RLMM is the wind-energy version of ALMM. It stands for the Revised List of Models and Manufacturers, and it lists approved wind turbine models and makers. ALMM does the same job for solar modules, cells and planned wafers and ingots.
You only meet RLMM if you also work in wind. For a solar EPC, the ladder that matters is ALMM — List-I, List-II and the planned List-III. RLMM is useful to know so you do not confuse the two approved-list systems when reading tender documents.
How do you read the live ALMM list?
You read the live ALMM list on the MNRE portal, and you treat every name, capacity and date as point-in-time. The list changes often, so a model that is listed today can be delisted next quarter. Always check at the moment you buy.
- Match the exact model number from the datasheet, character for character. A near-match is not a match.
- Check List-I first for the module, then List-II for the cell source if the cell rule applies on your date.
- Note the effective dates for List-II and List-III, and re-check them against the current MNRE order.
- Do not treat any manufacturer list or capacity as gospel — read the live list on the MNRE portal each time.
For duty, GST or import questions tied to sourcing, confirm with a customs broker or chartered accountant and the current CBIC notification. Compliance rules and dates here are point-in-time.
How SuryaHub helps you stay on the ladder
Reading three lists by hand on every order is slow and easy to skip. SuryaHub ties each ALMM check to the BOM in procurement, so the List-I, List-II, DCR and BIS steps cannot be skipped before a job moves to the next stage. The proof — model numbers, serials, certificates — lives with the project for any audit. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; the only real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and every ALMM date here is point-in-time, so verify it.
Make the whole ladder a step, not a hope
See how SuryaHub enforces List-I, List-II, DCR and BIS on every BOM.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the ALMM list I II III difference?+
The ALMM list I II III difference is the supply-chain depth each list approves. List-I approves modules by exact model number. List-II approves the cells inside the module from an enlisted Indian maker. List-III, planned around 2028, would approve the wafers and ingots. Each list pushes the domestic requirement one step deeper.
Is the ALMM List-II cell mandate in force in 2026?+
The ALMM List-II cell mandate is tied to a trigger around 2026, but that date faced deferment requests and court proceedings, including a Karnataka High Court matter. Confirm whether it was deferred in the latest MNRE order, status as of 20 Jun 2026, before you treat any List-II date as settled.
When does ALMM List-III for wafers and ingots start?+
ALMM List-III for wafers and ingots is planned to start around 2028, but that date is point-in-time and not yet settled. List-III would require the wafers and ingots inside a cell to come from enlisted Indian makers. Verify the List-III date against the current MNRE order before you plan around it.
Is an ALMM-listed module the same as a DCR module?+
No. ALMM-listed means the model is on the approved list; DCR means the module and its cells are made in India and carry a NISE DCR certificate. A module can be on ALMM List-I but not be DCR. ALMM and DCR are two separate checks, so never assume one from the other.
How is BIS different from ALMM?+
BIS is a separate rule from ALMM. The BIS IS 14286 compulsory registration scheme (CRS / QCO) certifies that a module meets a safety and quality standard. ALMM is a domestic-sourcing list. A module can need a valid BIS registration and an ALMM listing at the same time.
What is RLMM and how does it relate to ALMM?+
RLMM is the Revised List of Models and Manufacturers for wind turbines, the wind-energy analogue of ALMM. RLMM lists approved wind turbine models and makers. ALMM covers solar modules, cells and planned wafers and ingots. The two lists serve different technologies but follow a similar approved-list idea.
How does SuryaHub help with the ALMM ladder?+
SuryaHub ties each ALMM check to the BOM and the project stage, so List-I, List-II, DCR and BIS steps cannot be skipped before a job moves on. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; the only real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and every ALMM date here is point-in-time, verify.
Sources & references
This explainer is built from primary government sources. ALMM lists, the List-II date and the planned List-III date change often and several are litigated — always confirm the current rule against the source before you rely on it.
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) ↗
ALMM orders and List-I, List-II, List-III notifications and effective dates.
- NISE DCR portal ↗
Generating and verifying DCR certificates (verify the live URL).
- Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) ↗
IS 14286 / compulsory registration scheme (CRS / QCO) for solar modules.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MNRE, NISE & BIS sources · updated 20 June 2026.
Method: The ladder is built from the MNRE ALMM orders and the NISE and BIS sources above, and re-checked every 30 days. List-I, List-II and List-III dates are point-in-time and often litigated — verify each against the current MNRE order. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 20 Jun 2026 — first published.