- ALMM List-II requires cells from an enlisted Indian maker inside the module.
- Target date is around 1 June 2026 — but it is litigated.
- Confirm whether it was deferred in the latest MNRE order, status as of 20 Jun 2026.
- Your module still needs to be on List-I; List-II adds a cell-origin check.
- Watch TOPCon cell supply — domestic cells can be tight and pricier.
- Every date, capacity and maker name here is point-in-time — verify against the current MNRE order.
The ALMM List-II cell mandate is the change most likely to disrupt your 2026 BOM. It is not about the panel — it is about the solar cells inside it. And the headline date has been fought in court, so you need to know what is settled, what is not, and how to protect your procurement either way.
What ALMM List-II is
ALMM List-II approves the solar cells inside a module. Where List-I asks "is this module model approved?", List-II asks "are the cells in it from an approved Indian maker?" It pushes domestic content one level deeper, from the finished panel down to the cell.
This matters because a module can be assembled in India using imported cells. List-II closes that gap for government-linked work by demanding the cells themselves come from an enlisted Indian cell maker. For the full ladder, see ALMM list explained.
The 1 June 2026 date
The List-II cell mandate has been targeted for around 1 June 2026, but treat that as a target, not a fixed fact. MNRE has set, moved and discussed this date more than once, and the industry has asked for more time because domestic cell supply is not yet deep.
The date controls a lot: when your BOM must use enlisted Indian cells, how you write supplier contracts, and when lead times tighten. So you should never plan from a remembered date. Pull the latest MNRE order and read the effective date as written today.
Was the date deferred?
The ~1 June 2026 date faced deferment requests and court proceedings, including a Karnataka High Court matter, so it is not settled. Do not state it as a done deal in your own planning. The honest position on 20 Jun 2026 is: the rule and its date are live questions.
Confirm whether it was deferred in the latest MNRE order, status as of 20 Jun 2026. If you have any project that turns on this date, get the current order in front of you and, where money is at stake, ask your legal or compliance advisor to read it. Our List-II extension guide tracks how the timeline has moved.
What changes for your projects
Once List-II is live, your module still needs List-I, and the cells inside it must come from an enlisted Indian maker. You add one new check to procurement: cell origin. And you keep proof of it. The table below shows the before-and-after in practical terms.
Source: MNRE ALMM List-II order. Date litigated — verify against the current MNRE order.
Who is affected
EPCs doing government-linked work feel List-II most. That means subsidy jobs, many tenders, and net-metering work in states that require ALMM. If you do private C&I with no subsidy or net metering, the impact may be smaller — but confirm the tender and DISCOM rule.
Subsidy and agri-solar
Residential subsidy under PM Surya Ghar already leans on domestic content, so List-II reinforces what those jobs need. Agri-solar tenders under PM-KUSUM can also pull ALMM and DCR rules into the cell question.
The cell supply squeeze
The hardest part of List-II is supply, not paperwork. India has added module capacity fast, but cell capacity has lagged, and TOPCon — the leading cell technology — has been especially tight. When the rule forces everyone toward enlisted Indian cells at once, demand can outrun supply.
For you that can mean longer lead times and higher cell prices around the switch-over. Plan orders early, keep a backup supplier, and write delivery dates into contracts. Our TOPCon cell shortage guide covers the sourcing tactics in detail.
How to prove cell origin
You prove cell origin with a documented chain of custody from the cell maker to the finished module on site. That usually means the module model on List-I, the serial and RFID or QR tag, and supplier paperwork tying the cells to an enlisted Indian maker. Keep it all with the project file.
Where the job also needs domestic content, the DCR certificate from the NISE portal carries part of this proof. Treat ALMM List-II and DCR as overlapping but separate, and keep evidence for each.
Grandfathering and in-flight jobs
Whether List-II hits a running project depends on the cut-off and grandfathering terms in the MNRE order. The trigger could be the bid date, the order date or the commissioning date. Do not assume your in-flight jobs are safe just because they started before the rule.
Read the exact transition clause and map it to each live project. If a job is close to the line, consider pulling commissioning forward or locking cell supply now. Verify the rule against the current MNRE order, status as of 20 Jun 2026.
How to prepare now
Prepare by checking the live date, locking cell supply early, and tightening your BOM proof. You cannot control the rule, but you can control your exposure. A few concrete steps:
- Confirm the live effective date in the latest MNRE order before every major order.
- Lock cell supply early with enlisted Indian makers and a backup source.
- Add a cell-origin field to your procurement records, not just the module model.
- Write delivery and compliance clauses into supplier contracts so the risk sits with them.
- Map each live project against the grandfathering trigger to spot exposure.
How SuryaHub helps you survive List-II
List-II turns one BOM check into two — module and cell — and adds a date you must keep verifying. SuryaHub holds each approved model, its cell-origin proof and serials inside procurement and inventory, so a buyer can only raise a compliant BOM and can show the cell trail at inspection. It links to government workflows for the subsidy and net-metering steps. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; the only real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and every date, capacity and maker name here is point-in-time, to verify against the current MNRE order.
Track cell origin on every BOM
See how SuryaHub keeps the cell trail ready for inspection.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the ALMM List-II cell mandate?+
The ALMM List-II cell mandate requires the solar cells inside a module to come from an enlisted Indian cell maker, not just any source. It extends ALMM one level deeper than List-I, from the finished panel down to the cell, for most government-linked projects. The exact scope is set by the MNRE order.
Did the ALMM List-II June 2026 date get deferred?+
The ALMM List-II date of around 1 June 2026 faced deferment requests and court proceedings, including a Karnataka High Court matter, so it is not a settled fact. Confirm whether it was deferred in the latest MNRE order, status as of 20 June 2026, before you plan cell-level sourcing.
What changes for my projects under ALMM List-II?+
Under ALMM List-II, your module must still be on List-I, and the cells inside it must come from an enlisted Indian maker. You add a cell-origin check to procurement and keep a chain of custody down to the cell. The biggest practical change is tighter domestic cell supply and lead times.
Why is TOPCon cell supply a problem for List-II?+
TOPCon cell supply is tight because Indian cell capacity has lagged module capacity, and TOPCon is the leading technology. Under ALMM List-II, demand for enlisted Indian cells can outrun supply, so EPCs may face longer lead times and higher prices. Plan orders early and confirm cell availability with suppliers.
Does List-II apply to projects already under way?+
Whether ALMM List-II applies to in-flight projects depends on the cut-off and grandfathering terms in the MNRE order, which can hinge on bid date, commissioning date or order date. Do not assume your running jobs are exempt; verify the exact transition rule against the current MNRE order, status as of 20 June 2026.
How does SuryaHub help with the List-II cell mandate?+
SuryaHub stores each module model, its cell-origin proof and serials in procurement, so a buyer can only raise a BOM that meets the live ALMM rule and can show the cell trail later. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; the only real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and every date here is point-in-time, verify against the current MNRE order.
Sources & references
The List-II rule, its effective date and any deferment come from primary government sources. The date is litigated and point-in-time — confirm it against the current MNRE order, status as of 20 Jun 2026, before you plan.
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) ↗
Issues the ALMM List-II order, the effective date and any deferment.
- NISE DCR portal ↗
Cell-level domestic content checks tie in here (verify the exact URL).
- Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) ↗
Module and cell testing standards that sit alongside ALMM.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MNRE, NISE & BIS sources · updated 20 June 2026.
Method: The List-II rule and date are taken from MNRE orders and re-checked regularly. The ~1 June 2026 date is litigated and point-in-time; confirm whether it was deferred in the latest MNRE order, 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.