- BIS certification is mandatory to sell most solar modules in India.
- It runs under the CRS (Compulsory Registration Scheme), set by a QCO.
- Modules are tested to IS 14286 (performance) and IS 61730 (safety).
- Each registered model gets an R-number printed on the label.
- BIS is not ALMM and not DCR — they are three separate checks.
- Scope and dates change — verify against the current BIS / QCO notification / MNRE order.
BIS certification for solar panels is the baseline safety and quality check every buyer should look for first. It tells you a module passed real lab tests before it ever reached your warehouse. This guide breaks down the scheme, the standards, and how BIS sits next to ALMM and DCR — without the jargon.
If you buy modules for projects, you deal with three sets of rules at once. This page is part of our ALMM & DCR hub, and it focuses on the BIS layer. Get this one clear and the other two get easier to track.
What BIS certification for solar panels is
BIS certification is a mandatory registration that says a solar module meets India's quality and safety standards. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) runs it. A maker sends a sample module to an approved lab, the lab tests it, and if it passes, BIS gives that model a registration number.
Think of it as the entry ticket. A module without BIS registration cannot be legally sold for most uses in India. So before you check anything else, you check that the module is BIS-registered. It is the floor, not the ceiling.
Why it exists
The point is buyer protection. Solar modules sit on roofs for 25 years in heat, rain and wind. A poorly built module can fail early, lose power, or even cause a fire. BIS testing weeds out modules that cannot handle the job, so you start from a safe baseline.
The CRS and the QCO — what they mean
The CRS is the Compulsory Registration Scheme, and it is the system that makes BIS registration mandatory for solar modules. Under CRS, a product cannot be sold until its maker registers it with BIS and earns the right to print the BIS mark.
What a QCO is
A QCO is a Quality Control Order. The government issues a QCO to say "these products must meet this Indian standard, and they fall under compulsory registration." For solar modules, a QCO is what pulls them into the CRS. So the QCO is the legal trigger, and the CRS is the scheme that runs day to day.
Why the QCO matters to importers
The QCO also covers imports. A foreign maker who wants to sell modules in India must hold BIS registration too, or the modules can be stopped at customs. If you import, read our guide on importing modules and the BIS QCO, and confirm duty and GST with a customs broker or CA and the current CBIC notification.
One honest note: QCO scope and effective dates get revised. Cells, larger modules and new product types have been added over time. Always verify against the current BIS / QCO notification / MNRE order before you plan a shipment.
IS 14286 and IS 61730 — the two standards
BIS tests solar modules against two standards: IS 14286 for design and performance, and IS 61730 for safety. A registered module has passed both. They check different things, so you need both to call a module safe and sound.
IS 14286 — design and performance
IS 14286 is the standard for how well a crystalline silicon module is built and how it holds up. It covers the rated power, how the module behaves in heat and cold, how it survives damp, hail and stress, and whether it keeps its power over time. In short, it asks: does this module do its job and last?
IS 61730 — safety
IS 61730 is the safety standard. It checks electrical safety, insulation, and fire behaviour. The goal is simple: the module should not shock someone, short out, or feed a fire. A module can make good power and still be unsafe, which is why this standard sits alongside the performance one.
Both, not either
A BIS-registered module passes both IS 14286 and IS 61730. If a maker claims one but not the other, that is a gap worth questioning. The registration covers the pair as a set.
How IEC 61215 maps into IS 14286
IEC 61215 is the international module standard, and IS 14286 is the Indian version that mirrors it closely. The test sequences line up, so a module engineered to IEC 61215 usually meets IS 14286 with little change. India tests to its own IS standards for BIS, but the engineering behind them is the same global recipe.
Why the mapping helps you
Many global makers already build to IEC 61215 and the IEC safety standard, IEC 61730. So moving to Indian registration is mostly about getting tested at an Indian-recognised lab and filing with BIS, not redesigning the panel. For a buyer, it means a BIS mark and a strong IEC test history usually point the same way.
Want the test details? Our guide on IEC 61215 and IS 14286 tests walks through what the lab actually does to a module, test by test.
The R-number and the BIS registration mark
The R-number is the unique ID BIS gives a registered model, and it is your proof of certification. It usually looks like R-XXXXXXX and is printed on the module label next to the BIS Standard Mark. One model, one R-number, held by one maker.
Where to find it
Look at the label on the back of the module, or the official datasheet. You should see the BIS mark and the R-number. If a label shows a mark but no readable R-number, treat that as a warning sign and ask for the registration certificate.
The R-number is per model
A maker holds a separate R-number for each model and power class it registers. So a label that shows an R-number for a different model than the one printed on the panel is a mismatch. Match the model name and the R-number together, not just one of them.
BIS vs ALMM vs DCR — the comparison
BIS, ALMM and DCR answer three different questions, and a module can have one without the others. BIS asks "is it safe and good?" ALMM asks "is the maker approved for government work?" DCR asks "was it made in India?" Here is the side-by-side.
Comparison built by the SuryaHub team from BIS, MNRE and NISE sources. Scope and lists change often — verify against the current BIS / QCO notification / MNRE order.
The key takeaway
All three can apply to the same module, but none replaces the others. A module on the ALMM list still needs BIS registration to be sold. A BIS-registered module is not DCR unless its cells and module were both made in India. Keep them as three separate boxes to tick.
Who needs BIS, and when
Almost every solar module sold in India needs BIS registration under the CRS. That is the short answer. The maker holds the registration, not you — but you, as the buyer, should confirm it before money moves.
Domestic makers and importers
An Indian maker registers each model with BIS before selling it. A foreign maker who exports to India must also register, because the QCO covers imports. So whether the panel is made in Gujarat or abroad, the same rule applies — no BIS, no legal sale.
When ALMM or DCR also kick in
For government-backed and subsidy projects, you usually also need an ALMM-listed model, and sometimes a DCR-tagged one. So a rooftop subsidy job can require all three at once. Our ALMM list explained guide covers List-I, List-II and List-III in plain terms.
These rules are point-in-time. ALMM lists are revised, models are added and dropped, and QCO scope shifts. Before you commit a BOM, verify against the current BIS / QCO notification / MNRE order.
How to verify a module before you buy
Verifying a module takes four quick checks, and they are worth the few minutes. A fake or expired mark can sink a project later, so confirm at the source, not just from the brochure.
Find the R-number
Look on the module label or datasheet for an R-number like R-XXXXXXX. That is the BIS registration the maker holds.
Match the model
Check that the model name on the label matches the model BIS registered. A mark with the wrong model is a red flag.
Search the BIS register
Look up the R-number on the BIS CRS portal to confirm it is live and covers solar modules under IS 14286.
Cross-check ALMM and DCR
For subsidy work, also confirm the model on the MNRE ALMM list, and the DCR tag on the NISE portal if the scheme needs it.
For a deeper walkthrough on serial numbers and spotting fakes, see how to spot fake solar panels. It covers serial, BIS and ALMM checks together.
How SuryaHub helps you track every certification
SuryaHub keeps each module's BIS R-number and ALMM model number on the bill of materials, so the proof travels with the project. When you build a BOM in procurement and inventory, you record the R-number, the ALMM model number and the DCR tag per item. So when an auditor or a DISCOM asks, the answer is one click away, not a scramble through emails.
Being straight with you: SuryaHub is pre-revenue. Our only real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and the deeper compliance automation is on our roadmap, not shipped. The certification facts on this page are scheme facts, not guarantees — always confirm against the live BIS and MNRE sources before you act.
Keep every R-number on the BOM
See how SuryaHub stores BIS, ALMM and DCR proof per module.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is BIS certification for solar panels?+
BIS certification for solar panels is mandatory registration under the Compulsory Registration Scheme run by the Bureau of Indian Standards. The maker tests the module to IS 14286 and IS 61730, then BIS gives it an R-number. Without that BIS registration, most solar modules cannot be sold in India.
What is the difference between IS 14286 and IS 61730?+
IS 14286 is the design and performance standard for the whole solar module, covering things like power output and durability. IS 61730 is the safety standard, covering electrical and fire safety. Both are checked under BIS certification, so a registered module has passed performance and safety tests.
Is BIS certification the same as ALMM?+
No, BIS certification is not the same as ALMM. BIS, under the Compulsory Registration Scheme, confirms a module is safe and meets quality standards. ALMM is an MNRE list of approved makers and models for government projects. A module can hold BIS and still not be on the ALMM list.
What is the R-number on a solar module?+
The R-number is the unique BIS registration number a maker gets after a model passes testing under the Compulsory Registration Scheme. It is printed on the module label, usually as R-XXXXXXX with the BIS Standard Mark. You can look up the R-number on the BIS portal to confirm it is genuine.
Does BIS certification mean a module is DCR?+
No, BIS certification does not mean a module is DCR. BIS confirms safety and quality under IS 14286 and IS 61730. DCR, or Domestic Content Requirement, confirms the cells and the module were both made in India and is tracked on the NISE portal. They are separate checks.
How is IEC 61215 related to IS 14286?+
IS 14286 is the Indian standard that maps to the international IEC 61215 module standard. The test sequences are closely aligned, so a module designed to IEC 61215 usually meets IS 14286 too. For BIS certification in India, testing is done against the Indian IS standards.
Sources & references
The standards, the CRS rules and the QCO scope come from primary government sources. BIS standards, QCO scope and dates, and ALMM lists are point-in-time and often revised — verify against the current BIS / QCO notification / MNRE order before you act.
- Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) ↗
IS 14286, IS 61730, the Compulsory Registration Scheme and the QCO scope.
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) ↗
The ALMM order and the approved models and manufacturers lists.
- NISE DCR portal ↗
Domestic Content Requirement registration and DCR cell/module rules.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MNRE, NISE & BIS sources · updated 20 June 2026.
Method: Standards, the CRS scheme and the QCO scope are taken from the government sources above and re-checked every 30 days. Scheme scope and lists change — verify against the current BIS / QCO notification / MNRE order. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 20 Jun 2026 — first published.