- There is no safe fixed list — brand and model status changes often.
- ALMM List-I ≠ DCR. A model can be on List-I and still use imported cells.
- Verify the exact model number on the live MNRE list, not the brand name.
- For DCR, get a DCR certificate and verify it on the NISE portal.
- Any brand names below are point-in-time — verify on the MNRE portal.
Buyers want one clean list of Indian brands that are ALMM List-I and DCR-capable. We will not give you that, because such a list goes stale fast and can get a project rejected. Instead, here is how to verify any brand and model yourself, on the day you buy, from the live MNRE list.
The short answer
Several large Indian makers run domestic cell-plus-module lines and can produce DCR panels, but you must verify each exact model on the live MNRE ALMM List-I rather than trust a brand name. ALMM status and DCR status are separate, both change often, and both are checked per model.
In plain terms: a brand being well-known does not mean the specific model on your quote is on List-I or is DCR. You check the model number, not the logo. The rest of this guide shows how.
List-I versus DCR-capable
ALMM List-I and DCR are two different checks. List-I is the MNRE approved list of modules. DCR (Domestic Content Requirement) means the module and its cells are made in India, proven by a DCR certificate. A module can be on List-I and not be DCR.
Why the gap exists
List-I approves a module model. But that model may use imported cells. DCR demands domestic cells too. So List-I is necessary for most government-linked work, while DCR is an extra, stricter bar that applies where the scheme requires domestic content.
Where DCR is mandatory
DCR is mandatory where the scheme requires it, most notably the PM Surya Ghar residential subsidy. Many C&I and open-access jobs accept non-DCR modules. For the split, see our guide on DCR versus non-DCR panels.
Why we do not publish a fixed brand list
We do not publish a definitive brand list because ALMM List-I, List-II cell sources and DCR certificates all change often, and several rules are litigated. Any name list goes out of date within weeks. Trusting a stale list is how a module gets a project rejected.
A brand listed today can drop a model, change its cell source, or get a model delisted tomorrow. An EPC that ordered on the strength of an old blog list, not the live MNRE list, carries the loss. So the only safe source is the live list on the day you order.
How to verify a brand and model, step by step
Here is the check that actually protects you. It takes a few minutes per model and replaces any brand list. Run it before every order that touches a subsidy, tender, or net-metering job.
Check method based on the MNRE ALMM List-I and the NISE DCR portal. Always use the current revision and verify each model on the day you order.
The names you will see — and how to treat them
You will see a familiar set of large Indian makers named in trade press as running domestic cell and module lines: makers such as Waaree, Adani, Tata Power Solar, Vikram Solar, Premier Energies and others are widely reported to have integrated India-based capacity.
Treat every one of those names as point-in-time, verify on the MNRE portal. Being a big integrated maker does not mean a given model on your quote is on List-I or is DCR today. Use the names only as a starting point for your own model-level check above.
Capacity is not the same as your model being listed
A maker can have huge domestic capacity and still have the exact model you are buying not yet enlisted, or enlisted under a different model number. The list is per model. So even with a trusted integrated maker, you confirm the model, not the company.
Why the model number, not the brand, decides it
ALMM enlistment is by exact model number, not by brand. Two modules from the same brand can have different status — one listed, one not. So a buyer who checks only the brand can still end up with a non-compliant module.
When you read a quote, pull the precise model code and search that on the live list. Match the wattage and the model string exactly. A near-match is not a match. For the mechanics, see how to check the ALMM list.
If you are a homeowner shopping brands
If you are a homeowner, you do not need to memorise brands. For a PM Surya Ghar subsidy job, ask your installer for the exact module model, its ALMM List-I status, and a DCR certificate. Those three things, verified, matter more than any brand name.
A good installer will share the model number and certificate without fuss. If a seller pushes a brand but dodges the model number or the DCR certificate, treat that as a warning sign and ask again before you sign.
Red flags to avoid
A few patterns signal trouble. Watch for these when a supplier talks brands but not proof.
- "This brand is always DCR" — no brand is always DCR; it is per model and per certificate.
- No model number on the quote — you cannot verify a module you cannot name.
- An old screenshot of the list — insist on the live list, on the day you order.
- No DCR certificate for a subsidy job — for PM Surya Ghar, the certificate is the proof.
- "Trust me, it is listed" — verify it yourself on the MNRE portal, every time.
How SuryaHub helps you keep it straight
Checking one model is easy; checking every model across every job is where buyers slip. SuryaHub stores the model number, ALMM List-I status and the DCR certificate against each module on a job, so a buyer can flag a part before it ships to a subsidised project. It keeps the proof attached to the BOM instead of scattered in email. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and every brand or model status must be verified on the live MNRE list.
Keep ALMM and DCR proof on every module
See how SuryaHub attaches status and certificates to your BOM.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Which Indian brands make DCR solar panels?+
Several large Indian makers run domestic cell-plus-module lines that can produce DCR panels, and the names change as plants come online. Rather than trust a fixed list, verify each exact model on the live MNRE ALMM List-I and ask for a DCR certificate to confirm on the NISE portal. Brand status is point-in-time.
Is an ALMM List-I module always DCR?+
No. An ALMM List-I module is an approved model, but it can still use imported cells. DCR needs Indian cells and modules, proven by a DCR certificate from the NISE portal. So a model can be on List-I and not be DCR. Always check both separately for your exact module.
How do I check if a solar brand is DCR-capable?+
To check if a solar brand is DCR-capable, do not rely on the brand name. Find your exact model on the live MNRE ALMM List-I, confirm the maker, then ask the supplier for a DCR certificate for that module and verify it on the NISE DCR portal. Status changes, so check on the day you buy.
Why is there no fixed list of DCR brands?+
There is no reliable fixed list of DCR brands because ALMM List-I, List-II cell sources and DCR certificates all change often. A brand listed today can change models or cell sources tomorrow. Any name list goes stale fast, so the only safe source is the live MNRE list on the day you order.
Do I need a DCR panel for PM Surya Ghar?+
Yes, where the scheme requires domestic content. The PM Surya Ghar residential subsidy mandates DCR modules, proven by a DCR certificate. Many commercial and open-access jobs accept non-DCR modules. Confirm the rule for your exact project and verify the certificate before you install.
How does SuryaHub help verify module brands?+
SuryaHub stores the model number, ALMM status and DCR certificate against each module on a job, so a buyer can flag a part before it goes on a subsidised project. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL. Always verify status on the live MNRE list.
Sources & references
Brand and model status come from the live MNRE list and the NISE DCR portal, not from any third-party brand list. Always confirm the current status before you order.
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) ↗
The live ALMM List-I of approved modules and their cell-source data.
- NISE DCR portal ↗
Where DCR certificates are issued and can be verified (verify URL).
- National Portal for PM Surya Ghar ↗
Where DCR modules are mandatory for the residential subsidy.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MNRE, NISE & PM Surya Ghar sources · updated 20 June 2026.
Method: We verify status against the live MNRE ALMM List-I and the NISE DCR portal. Any brand names are illustrative and point-in-time — verify each model on the MNRE portal on the day you order. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 20 Jun 2026 — first published.