- This guide is for EPCs and developers, not homeowners buying a single panel.
- Buy modules only from an ALMM List-I maker, and confirm cells are List-II domestic where the tender needs it.
- Match the ALMM model ID you quoted to what is delivered — every time.
- DCR modules usually cost more than non-DCR (price is volatile — verify at publish).
- DCR scope and List-II enforcement are volatile and litigated — confirm against the latest MNRE office memorandum.
DCR module sourcing PM-KUSUM is where a clean bid can quietly bleed margin. PM-KUSUM pump tenders often demand DCR modules, and those modules must come from the right list. Get the list, the model ID and the price lock right, and you protect both your compliance and your profit. Get them wrong and you eat the difference.
This page is written for solar EPCs and developers who source modules for PM-KUSUM pump packages. It is not a homeowner buying guide. If you are a farmer, your EPC handles the module sourcing for you.
What DCR means for PM-KUSUM pumps
DCR stands for Domestic Content Requirement. For PM-KUSUM pumps it means the solar modules you fit must use domestically made cells and domestically made modules, where the tender demands DCR. The point is simple: the government wants the panels made in India, not just assembled here from imported cells.
In plain words, a DCR module is an Indian-made module built on Indian-made cells. That is a stricter test than a normal "made in India" label, which can hide imported cells inside an Indian frame. The DCR rule reaches down to the cell.
Verify this heavily. The exact DCR requirement scope for PM-KUSUM is volatile and litigated. Confirm against the latest MNRE ALMM office memorandum and current orders before you read DCR into any clause yourself.
What ALMM List-I and List-II are
ALMM stands for the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers. It is the government's gate for what you are allowed to use. There are two lists, and they are not the same thing.
List-I is modules, List-II is cells
ALMM List-I is the approved list of solar module makers and their models. ALMM List-II is the approved list of domestic solar cell makers. So a fully compliant DCR module sits on List-I, and its cells come from a maker on List-II. You check both, not just one.
The post-1 June 2026 List-II direction
The scheme is moving toward enforcing domestic cells through ALMM List-II, with dates that have been pushed around. The broad direction after 1 June 2026 is tighter domestic-cell enforcement. But the exact dates are not settled.
Verify this heavily. ALMM List-II (cells) enforcement dates, the DCR requirement scope, and the Component-C LoA cutoff are highly volatile and litigated — confirm against the latest MNRE ALMM office memorandum and current orders. Do not bid or buy on a date you read here; check the live order.
How DCR and ALMM apply to pumps vs Component A
DCR and ALMM apply differently to pump packages than to Component A plants. A pump package (Component B, or feeder pumps under C) carries a small set of modules per pump, so the DCR check is about each shipment matching the listed model. A Component A ground-mount plant buys modules in bulk, so the same rules bite at a much larger scale and price.
For pumps, your risk is dispatch-level: dozens of small consignments, each of which must carry the right ALMM model. For Component A, your risk is a single large order where a price move or a listing change can swing lakhs. The compliance idea is the same; the money and the logistics are not.
Where EPCs actually buy DCR modules
EPCs buy DCR modules from ALMM List-I Indian module makers — the same names that appear on the live list. You do not buy DCR modules from a random importer or a trader who cannot show you a listing. The maker, or the maker's authorised channel, is the source.
A safe buying framework
Use this simple framework every time. First, buy only from List-I makers and the exact model on the list. Second, confirm the cells are List-II domestic where the tender requires it. Third, get the ALMM model ID and the warranty in writing before you pay. If a supplier cannot give you all three, walk away.
Shortlist your pump and module sources together. Our approved pump brands and OEM guide covers the pump side, and the DCR and ALMM compliance guide covers the rules behind these lists.
A DCR and ALMM sourcing checklist
Run every module purchase through these six checks before you accept the consignment. Each step names what to confirm and the document that proves it.
Illustrative sourcing checklist — DCR scope and ALMM List-II enforcement are volatile and litigated; confirm against the latest MNRE ALMM order before you buy.
How DCR modules price against non-DCR
DCR modules usually cost more than non-DCR modules. Domestic cells and domestic modules carry a premium over imported product, and that premium flows straight into your module line. If your bid assumed cheap imported panels, a DCR clause can erase your margin in one stroke.
Verify this heavily. Module-price benchmarks are highly volatile — verify the current module pricing at publish. Treat any number you carry from an old bid as out of date, and get a fresh quote before you commit.
Price the gap properly in your bid. The Component B/C bid economics guide and the bid cost-sheet template show how to put the DCR premium on the right line, so the cost is visible before you sign, not after.
How to protect your margin
Margin on DCR modules is won or lost in the buying, not the bidding. Use these habits on every order and the difference adds up across a project.
- Lock the price. Fix the module price with the supplier in writing, ideally tied to your award quantity.
- Buy against a confirmed LoA. Do not pre-buy on a hope; purchase against a confirmed Letter of Award.
- Avoid over-ordering. Order to the package count, not to a round number — surplus DCR modules tie up cash.
- Watch GST and freight. The landed cost is the module plus GST plus freight; a far supplier can wipe out a cheaper panel.
- Verify model IDs before dispatch. Confirm the ALMM model ID at the factory before the truck leaves, not at site.
Each of these is small on its own. Together they are the difference between a job that delivers the margin you bid and one that quietly leaks it.
Documents to collect on every module buy
Collect a clean document set for every consignment. These are what an inspector asks for, and what protects your PM-KUSUM claim if a listing is later questioned.
- ALMM listing proof — a current screenshot or extract showing the maker and model on List-I.
- ALMM model ID — the exact model identifier, recorded against the order.
- Test reports — the IEC or BIS test certificates for the module.
- Warranty — product and performance warranty documents from the maker.
- Invoice — the tax invoice that ties the model, quantity and price together.
File these against the project, not in a loose folder. When a quality inspection or a technical-specification check lands, you want to hand over the proof in minutes, not days.
Common sourcing mistakes that cost EPCs
Most sourcing losses come from a few repeat mistakes. Know them and you avoid the worst of them.
- Buying non-listed modules. A module that is not on ALMM List-I fails the gate, no matter how good the price.
- Quoted ALMM ID ≠ delivered module. A mismatch between the model you quoted and the model that arrives is a compliance failure and a margin risk.
- Ignoring cell-origin rules. Treating a List-I module as enough, while the tender also wants List-II domestic cells, leaves you exposed.
- No price lock. Buying at a moving market price after award turns a known cost into a gamble.
- Weak paperwork. Missing listing proof or test reports stalls inspection and can delay the claim.
These mistakes feed your bid maths too. Read the bid economics guide alongside this page, and shortlist makers with the approved-OEM guide, so the module you cost is the module you can actually buy.
How SuryaHub helps you source without surprises
Sourcing goes wrong in the gap between what you quoted and what arrives. SuryaHub closes that gap. The procurement and inventory module tracks ALMM model IDs, prices against the LoA, GST and supplier documents, then matches each dispatch to the module you quoted — so a mismatch is caught before site, not after. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and module prices here are estimates, not quotes.
Match every module to your bid
See how SuryaHub tracks ALMM model IDs, prices and supplier docs in one place.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is DCR module sourcing for PM-KUSUM?+
DCR module sourcing for PM-KUSUM means buying solar modules that meet the Domestic Content Requirement, so the modules use domestically made cells and modules where the tender demands it. DCR scope is volatile and litigated, so confirm against the latest MNRE office memorandum before you order any modules.
What is the difference between ALMM List-I and List-II?+
ALMM List-I is the approved list of module makers and models, while ALMM List-II is the approved list of domestic solar cell makers. For DCR pump work you buy from a List-I maker and, where required, confirm the cells come from a List-II maker. Enforcement dates are volatile, so verify the current MNRE order.
Where do EPCs buy DCR modules for PM-KUSUM pumps?+
EPCs buy DCR modules from ALMM List-I Indian module makers. The safe framework is to buy only from List-I makers, confirm the cells are List-II domestic where required, then get the ALMM model ID and the warranty. Match the quoted model ID to what is delivered before you accept the consignment.
Do DCR modules cost more than non-DCR modules?+
DCR modules usually cost more than non-DCR modules, because domestic cells and modules carry a premium over imported ones. Module-price benchmarks are highly volatile, so verify the current DCR and non-DCR module pricing at publish and build the gap into your bid before you commit.
How do I protect my margin when sourcing DCR modules?+
To protect margin on DCR modules, lock the price against your confirmed Letter of Award, buy only against a confirmed LoA, avoid over-ordering, watch GST and freight, and verify ALMM model IDs before dispatch. A mismatch between the quoted model and the delivered module is where EPCs lose money.
What documents should I collect when buying DCR modules?+
When buying DCR modules, collect the ALMM listing proof, the exact ALMM model ID, the IEC or BIS test reports, the product and performance warranty, and the tax invoice. These documents prove DCR and ALMM compliance during inspection and protect your PM-KUSUM claim if the listing is later questioned.
How does SuryaHub help with DCR module sourcing?+
SuryaHub tracks ALMM model IDs, prices against the LoA, GST, supplier documents and dispatch matching in one procurement and inventory module, so the module delivered matches the module you quoted. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and module prices here are estimates.
Sources & references
ALMM orders, DCR rules and the live lists come from primary government sources. These rules are volatile and litigated, so always confirm the current ALMM order and DCR scope before you bid or buy.
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) ↗
ALMM orders, DCR rules and scheme guidelines. Rules change — verify the latest office memorandum.
- National Portal for PM-KUSUM ↗
Component-wise rules, tenders and the official process. Verify the current page.
- SECI / MNRE ALMM list page ↗
Live ALMM List-I and List-II model and maker listings. Highly volatile — verify before you buy.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MNRE ALMM, the PM-KUSUM National Portal & SNA sources · updated 19 June 2026.
Method: Sourcing rules, ALMM lists and DCR scope are taken from the government sources above and re-checked regularly. DCR and ALMM enforcement is volatile and litigated — confirm against the latest MNRE office memorandum before you act. Module prices are estimates, not quotes. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 19 Jun 2026 — first published.