How cell makers get on ALMM List-II

List-II decides where your DCR and List-II modules can get their cells. The list of enlisted cell makers is short, the capacity is capped, and the date is litigated. If you place BOM orders, you need to know how a cell maker gets on this list and why that controls your supply.

What ALMM List-II enlistment is

ALMM List-II enlistment is how a solar cell maker gets MNRE approval so its cells can be used in compliant modules. ALMM has layers. List-I covers approved modules. List-II covers approved cells. Where the List-II mandate applies, the cells inside a List-I module must come from a maker enlisted on List-II.

This matters because a module can be on List-I but still use imported cells. Once List-II bites, that module no longer qualifies unless its cells are domestic and enlisted. So List-II pushes the whole supply chain back to Indian cell plants.

List-II versus DCR

DCR (Domestic Content Requirement) also demands Indian cells and modules, proven by a DCR certificate from the NISE portal. List-II and DCR overlap but are not the same rule. For a fuller split, see our hub guide on DCR versus List-II.

Why EPCs should track cell enlistment

EPCs should track List-II enlistment because the number of enlisted cell makers sets how much compliant module supply exists. When only a handful of plants are enlisted, DCR and List-II modules get scarce and prices climb. Your procurement plan lives or dies on this.

India has far more module-making capacity than cell-making capacity. So cells are the choke point. When the List-II mandate starts, demand for enlisted cells can outrun supply for a while. Buyers who watch the list early can lock supply before a deadline squeezes the market.

The link to TOPCon supply

Most new modules use TOPCon cells, and domestic TOPCon cell capacity is still ramping. That gap is the heart of the TOPCon cell shortage. Watching which makers get enlisted, and at what capacity, tells you how fast that gap closes.

Who applies, and when

The cell maker applies, not the EPC and not the module brand. A firm that runs a real cell line in India files with MNRE for each cell model it wants enlisted. The application names exact models and lines, because enlistment is by model, not by company name alone.

Makers apply when a new line comes online or when they add a new cell type. As more plants start, more makers join the list. This is why the list grows over time and why you must always read the live version, not an old copy.

The enlistment process, step by step

Here is the typical flow a cell maker follows. The exact steps, fees and standards are set by MNRE and change with each order, so treat this as the shape of the process and verify the current detail on the live MNRE order.

Process shape based on MNRE ALMM enlistment guidelines. Steps, fees and standards are point-in-time — verify against the current MNRE order before relying on any detail.

Factory inspection and testing

The factory inspection is the step that separates a real maker from a trader. MNRE or its agency visits the plant to confirm the cell line exists, runs, and can make the claimed cells at the claimed volume. A paper-only firm cannot pass this.

Testing sits alongside the inspection. The maker submits test reports for the cells against the required standards, from an accredited lab. The standard list is set by MNRE and BIS and can change, so the maker must use the version current at the time of applying.

Why this protects EPCs

The inspection and tests are why a List-II entry means something. When you buy a module whose cells trace to an enlisted maker, an inspector has already checked that plant. That is a real quality signal, not just a label. It does not replace your own checks, but it raises the floor.

Enlisted capacity and the quota effect

The inspection sets an enlisted capacity for the maker, in MW or GW per year. This is a cap on how much enlisted cell output that maker can supply. The total enlisted capacity across all makers sets the ceiling for compliant module supply nationwide.

This quota effect is why the list matters so much to buyers. If total enlisted cell capacity is below national demand for DCR and List-II modules, supply is tight by definition. Watching the total enlisted gigawatts tells you whether the squeeze is easing or getting worse.

Capacity is point-in-time

The enlisted capacity numbers move with every revision as plants ramp and new lines enlist. Never quote a fixed gigawatt figure from memory. Read the latest revision and label any number you share as point-in-time, verified on the MNRE portal on a stated date.

List revisions and timing

MNRE revises List-II often, and each revision can add makers, add capacity, or change entries. Revision numbers and total enlisted gigawatts change month to month. An old PDF can be wrong by the time you read it.

The List-II effective date — the point at which the cell mandate starts — has been the subject of deferment requests and court proceedings, including at the Karnataka High Court. Do not state it as settled. Confirm whether it was deferred in the latest MNRE order, status as of 20 Jun 2026.

What EPCs should track on the live list

You do not control enlistment, but you can track it. Pin these signals and check them before every big BOM order. They tell you whether compliant cells will be there when you need them.

• Total enlisted cell capacity — is it rising toward national demand?
• Number of enlisted makers — more makers means less single-supplier risk.
• Cell type coverage — is TOPCon capacity enlisted, not just older types?
• The latest revision date — always read the current revision, not a saved copy.
• The effective-date status — deferred or active in the latest MNRE order?

Track these and you can plan supply instead of reacting to a deadline. For the practical side of reading the enlisted-maker list, see our guide on the List-II cell makers list.

How SuryaHub helps you act on it

Tracking the list is one thing; acting on it across every quote and order is another. SuryaHub links your bill of materials and procurement to the module and cell source on each job, so a buyer can flag when a part leans on tight List-II cell supply before the order goes out. It keeps the compliance fields on every BOM in one place. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and every cell or capacity figure must be verified against the live MNRE list.

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Sources & references

The enlistment process, the list and the standards come from primary government bodies. Lists, capacities and dates change often, so always confirm the current version before you rely on it.

• Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) ↗

  ALMM orders, List-II enlistment guidelines and the live enlisted list.

• National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) ↗

  Testing and inspection body referenced in the enlistment process.

• Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) ↗

  IS 14286 / CRS registration that underpins cell and module quality.