- ALMM List-I approves Indian-made modules, listed by exact model number.
- You file documents, pay a fee, pass a factory inspection, then MNRE enlists your models.
- You need BIS / IS 14286 registration and IEC 61215 test reports for each model.
- Fees, validity (4 vs 5 years) and inspection-waiver rules change — verify against the latest MNRE ALMM SOP.
- Renew before expiry, or the model drops off the list.
- An EPC reads the live List-I to confirm a model before buying.
The ALMM enlistment application process is how an Indian module maker gets its products onto MNRE's approved list, so EPCs can use them in government-linked solar projects. The work is part paperwork, part testing, and part a factory audit. This guide walks the full path and flags the numbers you must verify, because fees, validity and inspection rules have changed.
What ALMM List-I enlistment is and why a maker needs it
ALMM List-I enlistment is MNRE's approval that lets a module model be used in most government-linked solar projects. ALMM stands for the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers. List-I is the list of approved finished modules. A model that is not on List-I cannot be used in subsidy schemes, many tenders, or many net-metering jobs.
For a maker, enlistment is the gate to a large share of the Indian market. Buyers who depend on subsidy or government tenders will only order ALMM-listed models. So a maker that is not on List-I is locked out of that demand, even if its modules are good.
Why it matters for EPCs too
An EPC reads the same list from the other side. The EPC must buy only listed models, or the project can be rejected. So both sides care about the same list: the maker works to get on it, and the EPC works to buy only from it. You can read the basics in our ALMM list explained guide.
Who can apply for ALMM List-I enlistment
Any manufacturer of solar modules made in India can apply for ALMM List-I enlistment. The key word is made in India: the application is about a real domestic factory, not a trading firm or an importer. The maker must show the plant, the machinery and the line capacity.
You apply at the model level
ALMM lists models by their exact model number, not just the brand. So a maker with five models files details for each one and gets each one listed separately. A model that is not filed and approved is not on the list, even if other models from the same brand are.
Match every claim to a document
Each model needs its own test reports and a datasheet that matches what you submit. If the wattage or efficiency on the datasheet does not match the test report, MNRE will raise a query. Keep your model records clean and consistent before you start.
The documents required
The documents required fall into a few groups: legal proof, factory and capacity proof, model-level technical files, and test and quality records. Have them ready before you open the portal, because the application asks for them together.
Source: MNRE ALMM application guidelines. The exact document list is set by MNRE and is revised — verify against the latest MNRE ALMM SOP / application guidelines.
The application fee and inspection fee
An ALMM List-I application carries an application fee plus a separate factory inspection fee, and both are paid by the maker. MNRE sets these amounts, and they have changed over time. Some versions of the SOP also add a per-model charge. Treat any number you read as point-in-time.
Verify before you budget
We will not state a rupee figure as settled fact, because the fee structure has moved across ALMM orders. Before you plan your budget, check the current application fee, the inspection fee and any per-model charge against the latest MNRE ALMM SOP and application guidelines. Build your budget on the live numbers, not on an old circular.
The factory inspection and capacity assessment
A factory inspection is a site audit where an inspecting agency confirms your plant and stated capacity are real. This is the part of ALMM that an importer or a trader cannot fake. The agency looks at the lines, the machinery, the raw-material flow and the in-house testing.
What the inspectors check
The team verifies that the factory can actually make the models you filed, at the capacity you claimed. They check production equipment, quality controls and records. If the real capacity is far below the claim, that becomes a problem for your file.
Plan for the inspection fee
The inspection is a separate cost from the application fee, paid by the applicant. The amount is set by MNRE and the agency, and it has changed — verify against the latest MNRE ALMM SOP. Keep your factory and records audit-ready so the visit goes smoothly.
The IEC 61215 and IS 14286 test reports you need
Each model needs IEC 61215 design-qualification test reports and BIS registration under IS 14286 before it can be enlisted. These prove the module is safe and that the design passed the standard tests. Without current reports for a model, that model cannot go onto List-I.
IEC 61215 — design qualification
IEC 61215 is the international test standard for design qualification of crystalline modules. An accredited lab runs the tests and issues a report tied to a specific model. The report must match the model number and the datasheet you submit.
IS 14286 and BIS registration
IS 14286 is the Indian standard for module safety, enforced through the BIS Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS). A model must be BIS-registered under this standard. BIS and the testing bodies sit alongside ALMM, so plan your test and registration timelines together.
The application flow — step by step
Here is the ALMM List-I application flow, from preparing your file to renewing before expiry. The order matters: the work front-loads onto documents and test reports, then moves to the portal, the fee, the inspection and the MNRE review.
Prepare documents and test reports
Gather your legal papers, factory and capacity proof, model datasheets, BIS registration and IEC 61215 reports before you start. Missing test reports are the most common reason an application stalls.
Register on the MNRE / ALMM portal
Create the manufacturer account on the MNRE ALMM portal. Enter your firm details and factory address, then verify the account as the portal instructs.
Pay the application fee
Pay the application fee set by the current MNRE ALMM SOP. Keep the payment receipt — verify the exact amount and any per-model charge against the latest MNRE order.
Submit model-level technical details
Enter each model you want listed by its exact model number, with wattage, efficiency and the matching test reports. ALMM lists models, not just brands.
Factory inspection and capacity verification
An inspecting agency audits your plant to confirm the lines, machinery and stated capacity are real. The inspection fee is separate and is paid by the applicant — verify the amount.
MNRE review of the file
MNRE reviews your documents, test reports and the inspection report together. They may raise queries that you must answer before a decision.
Enlistment and model listing
Once cleared, MNRE adds your approved models to the live List-I by model number. Only listed models qualify for most government-linked projects.
Renew before expiry
Track your validity date and re-apply before it lapses. A model that is not renewed drops off List-I and can no longer be used in subsidy and many tender jobs.
Source: MNRE ALMM application process. Steps, fees and inspection rules are set by MNRE and are revised — verify against the latest MNRE ALMM SOP / application guidelines.
The timeline from application to enlistment
The timeline from application to enlistment runs across several stages, so plan for months, not days. Document preparation and lab testing take the longest, and you control that part. Once the file is in, the portal steps, the fee and the inspection scheduling follow.
Where the time goes
Most of the wait is outside the portal: getting test reports from an accredited lab, scheduling the factory inspection, and answering any MNRE queries. A clean, complete file with current test reports moves faster than one that triggers questions.
Build in buffer
We will not state a fixed number of days, because the timeline depends on lab queues, inspection scheduling and MNRE workload, all of which vary. Treat any timeline you read as an estimate, and start the process well before you need the listing for a contract.
Validity period and renewal
ALMM List-I enlistment is valid for a fixed period, then it must be renewed. The exact validity length has been reported inconsistently. You will see both four years and five years quoted in different places. Do not treat either figure as settled — confirm the current validity against the latest MNRE ALMM order.
Renew before the model lapses
A model that is not renewed in time drops off List-I. Once it drops off, it can no longer be used in subsidy and many tender jobs, even if it was listed for years. So track your validity date and re-apply before it expires.
4 vs 5 years — verify
Because the validity period is reported inconsistently as four or five years, do not plan your renewal calendar from memory or an old document. Read the validity term off the latest MNRE ALMM order or your own enlistment record, and set the renewal reminder from that.
Inspection waiver and relaxation rules in 2025-26
The factory inspection or its renewal can be relaxed in some cases, and these waiver rules changed during 2025 and 2026. Do not assume a waiver applies to you. The conditions for a relaxed or waived inspection are set by MNRE and have moved, so they need a fresh check each time you apply or renew.
Check the live rule, not last year's
Because the inspection-waiver and relaxation rules shifted across recent ALMM orders, the safe approach is simple: verify the current inspection and waiver rules against the latest MNRE ALMM SOP and application guidelines before you file. A rule that applied last year may not apply now.
How List-I differs from List-II and List-III
List-I, List-II and List-III each approve a different stage of the module supply chain. List-I is the finished module. List-II is the solar cell inside it. List-III is the wafer or ingot further upstream. A maker applies to the list that matches what it actually produces.
Source: MNRE ALMM orders. The List-II cell mandate effective date has been litigated (for example, Karnataka HC proceedings) and may be deferred — confirm the status against the latest MNRE order as of 20 June 2026. List-III timing is planned and should be verified too.
Why a model maker watches List-II
A module maker is enlisted on List-I, but the cells inside the module can be tied to List-II. The cell mandate has an effective date that has faced deferment requests and court proceedings, so it is not a settled fact. Cell makers have their own path, covered in our List-II cell enlistment guide.
How an EPC reads and uses the live List-I to vet a supplier
An EPC uses the live List-I to confirm a model is approved before placing the order. The EPC looks up the exact model number on the MNRE list, checks that it is currently listed, and only then buys. Buying an unlisted or delisted model can get a project rejected.
Check the model number, not the brand
Because ALMM lists models, an EPC must match the exact model number on the quote and the invoice to the list, not just the brand. A brand can have some listed models and some that are not. Our how to check the ALMM list guide walks the lookup, and the read the List-I PDF guide shows how to read the file.
Watch for delisting
A model that was listed can drop off if its enlistment lapses or is withdrawn. So a model the EPC bought safely last year may not be valid today. Checking the live list at order time, every time, is the only safe habit.
How SuryaHub helps an EPC enforce ALMM List-I
SuryaHub checks every module model on a BOM against the live ALMM List-I at order time, so an EPC never buys a delisted or unlisted model by mistake. The procurement and BOM module ties the model number on the order to the list, and links to the government workflow steps that depend on it. SuryaHub is a procurement and project tool, not an MNRE agent — it helps EPCs buy compliant modules, it does not file ALMM applications for makers. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; the real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and every list figure here is point-in-time.
Check every model against the live list
See how SuryaHub flags an unlisted module before the order goes out.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the ALMM List-I application process?+
The ALMM List-I application process is how an Indian module maker gets approved models added to the MNRE list. The maker prepares documents and test reports, registers on the ALMM portal, pays the fee, submits model-level details, passes a factory inspection, and waits for MNRE review and enlistment.
Who can apply for ALMM List-I enlistment?+
ALMM List-I enlistment is open to manufacturers of solar modules made in India. The maker applies at the model level, so each model is listed by its exact model number, not just the brand. The maker must show a real Indian factory and the matching test reports for every model.
How much does an ALMM List-I application cost?+
An ALMM List-I application carries an application fee plus a separate factory inspection fee, both paid by the maker. The exact amounts and any per-model charge are set by MNRE and have changed over time. Verify the current figures against the latest MNRE ALMM SOP before you budget.
How long is an ALMM List-I enlistment valid?+
ALMM List-I enlistment is valid for a fixed period, then it must be renewed. The validity length has been reported inconsistently as four or five years, so do not treat either figure as settled. Confirm the current validity period against the latest MNRE ALMM order before you plan a renewal.
Is the ALMM List-I factory inspection ever waived?+
The ALMM List-I factory inspection or its renewal can be relaxed in some cases, and these waiver rules changed during 2025 and 2026. Do not assume a waiver applies to you. Verify the current inspection and waiver rules against the latest MNRE ALMM SOP and application guidelines before applying.
How is ALMM List-I different from List-II and List-III?+
ALMM List-I covers finished modules and is what most government-linked projects need today. List-II covers the solar cells inside the module, with an effective date that has been litigated. List-III covers wafers and ingots at the upstream stage. Each list approves a different part of the supply chain.
How does SuryaHub help with ALMM List-I compliance?+
SuryaHub checks every module model on a BOM against the live ALMM List-I at order time, so an EPC never buys a delisted or unlisted model. SuryaHub is a procurement and project tool, not an MNRE agent. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; the real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL.
Sources & references
Application rules, fees, the inspection process, validity and the test standards come from primary government and standards bodies. Every fee, validity period and inspection rule is point-in-time — confirm the current figures against the latest MNRE ALMM SOP, BIS and NISE before you apply.
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) ↗
ALMM orders, the application SOP and the live List-I of approved models.
- Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) ↗
IS 14286 and the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) for modules.
- National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) ↗
Module testing and certification support under the QCO framework.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MNRE, BIS & NISE sources · updated 20 June 2026.
Method: The application steps, document groups and test standards are taken from the government sources above and re-checked every 30 days. Fees, validity (4 vs 5 years), inspection-waiver rules and List-II dates are point-in-time and must be verified against the current MNRE ALMM SOP. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 20 Jun 2026 — first published.