- You empanel with each state nodal agency (SNA), not with MNRE.
- Empanelment is per state, often per component (A, B or C).
- You need company, financial, technical and tax documents plus any EMD.
- Empanelment only qualifies you to bid — you still win on tender.
- All fees, EMD and validity terms — verify with the SNA notice.
For an EPC, PM-KUSUM vendor empanelment is the front door. You cannot bid SNA tenders until you are on the empanelled list. The process is mostly paperwork and eligibility — get it right once, and a pipeline of tenders opens up.
What PM-KUSUM empanelment is
PM-KUSUM empanelment is the process of getting your firm on a state nodal agency's approved-vendor list so you can bid that state's PM-KUSUM tenders. It is a qualification step, not a contract. Once empanelled, you are eligible to compete for the actual work.
Crucially, you empanel with the SNA, not with MNRE centrally. PM-KUSUM is run by MNRE but delivered by each state nodal agency and DISCOM. So a firm working across states empanels separately in each one — there is no single national empanelment.
Why empanelment is the gate to all the work
Empanelment is the gate because PM-KUSUM is tender-driven, and only empanelled vendors can bid. There is no walk-in subsidy work for EPCs. If you are not on the list, you never see the tender, let alone win it.
This is the single biggest mindset shift for EPCs coming from rooftop schemes. The money is not in a portal you log into and start working. It is in tenders you qualify for, then compete for on price and capability. Empanelment is step one of a two-step path: qualify, then win.
The step-by-step empanelment process
The process is consistent across most states, even though the details differ. Here are the six steps from decision to listing.
Pick your state and component
Decide where you will work and which component (A, B or C). Empanelment is run by each state nodal agency, so you apply per state, often per component.
Read the SNA empanelment notice
Each SNA publishes an empanelment or registration notice with eligibility, documents and fees. Read it in full before you start — terms differ by state and revision.
Build your document set
Assemble company, financial, technical and tax documents from the checklist below. A missing or expired document is the most common reason an application is returned.
Meet the eligibility criteria
Confirm you clear the turnover, experience, technical and net-worth bars in the notice. If you fall short, consider a joint venture or sub-vendor route where the SNA allows it.
Submit the application and fee
Apply on the SNA portal or as the notice directs, pay any processing fee, and submit the EMD where required. Keep proof of every payment and submission.
Get approved and listed
The SNA reviews your file and lists you as an empanelled vendor for the component and state. You can now bid the SNA tenders you qualify for.
Process steps are an EPC-facing summary. Exact stages, fees and EMD are set by each SNA notice and revised periodically — verify the current process with the SNA.
Documents you need to empanel
The document set spans four areas — company, financial, technical and tax. Have current copies of all of them before you apply, because an expired or mismatched document is the most common reason a file is sent back.
- Company — registration proof (CIN, partnership deed or Udyam), and authorised-signatory details.
- Financial — audited financials showing turnover and net worth for the years the notice asks.
- Technical — past experience certificates, completed-project proof, and manpower details.
- Tax — PAN, active GST registration, and a cancelled cheque for the firm account.
- EMD / fee — earnest money and any processing fee, where the SNA requires it.
Exact documents and thresholds are set by each SNA notice. Confirm the current list before you apply, and keep a single, clean copy of each file ready to reuse across states.
Eligibility criteria you must clear
Most SNA notices set turnover, experience, technical and net-worth bars. These filter out firms that cannot fund and deliver the work. Read them carefully, because they decide whether you can apply at all.
If you fall short of the bar
A newer EPC that misses the turnover or experience bar is not always shut out. Some SNAs allow a joint venture or sub-vendor route, where you partner with a qualifying firm. Check whether the notice permits this and what each partner must contribute. It is a common way for growing EPCs to enter the scheme.
EMD and the financials behind empanelment
Empanelment can involve an earnest money deposit (EMD) and a processing fee, both set by the SNA. The EMD is refundable money you lock up to show you are serious. It is usually modest compared with what comes later.
The bigger financial commitment arrives after you win a tender: the performance bank guarantee (PBG), which ties up real money for the project and O&M term. Plan your working capital for the whole path — empanelment EMD, bid EMD, then PBG — not just the first step. Treat all these figures as estimates to confirm with the SNA notice and the live tender.
After empanelment: how tenders work
Empanelment qualifies you to bid; you still win work through competitive tenders. This is where the real selection happens.
The L1 framework
Many PM-KUSUM tenders award on a lowest-evaluated (L1) basis, balancing price against qualification. You submit a bid with an EMD, and the lowest qualifying price usually wins. After award, you furnish the PBG and sign the contract. Use the tender document checklist so a missing paper never disqualifies an otherwise winning bid.
Common empanelment mistakes
Most rejections are avoidable. Watch for these.
- Expired documents — renew licences and certificates before you apply.
- Name mismatches across PAN, GST and bank records — make them identical.
- Missing the eligibility bar — confirm turnover and experience before you start.
- Late submission — empanelment windows close; do not leave it to the last day.
- Assuming it is national — empanel separately in each state you plan to work.
How SuryaHub helps you empanel and win
Empanelment is a document and deadline problem across many SNAs at once. SuryaHub keeps every SNA login, document set, EMD and renewal date in government workflows, and runs each won project through project management so delivery protects your empanelment. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; the only real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and every fee or EMD figure here is an estimate to verify with the SNA.
Manage every SNA in one place
See how SuryaHub tracks empanelment, EMD and renewals across states.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
How do I get empanelled as a PM-KUSUM vendor?+
To get empanelled as a PM-KUSUM vendor, pick your state and component, read the state nodal agency empanelment notice, build the required document set, confirm you meet the eligibility criteria, then submit the application with any fee and EMD. The SNA reviews your file and lists you as an empanelled vendor. Verify current terms with the SNA.
Where do EPCs empanel for PM-KUSUM?+
EPCs empanel for PM-KUSUM with each state nodal agency, not with MNRE centrally. PM-KUSUM is run by MNRE but delivered by each SNA and DISCOM, so empanelment is per state and often per component. An EPC working in several states empanels separately in each. Confirm the current process with each SNA.
What documents are needed for PM-KUSUM empanelment?+
PM-KUSUM empanelment usually needs company registration proof, PAN and GST, audited financials showing turnover and net worth, past experience certificates, technical and manpower details, and any EMD or fee. Exact documents and thresholds are set by each SNA notice and revised periodically, so confirm the current list before you apply.
Is PM-KUSUM empanelment the same as winning a tender?+
No, PM-KUSUM empanelment is not the same as winning a tender. Empanelment qualifies you to bid, but you still win work through competitive tenders, usually on a lowest-evaluated (L1) basis, with an EMD at bid and a performance bank guarantee after award. Empanelment is the gate; the tender is the contract.
Does PM-KUSUM empanelment cost money?+
PM-KUSUM empanelment can involve a processing fee and an earnest money deposit (EMD), both set by the state nodal agency and varying by state and component. The larger cost comes later as a performance bank guarantee after you win a tender. Treat all fees and EMD figures as estimates to confirm with the SNA notice.
How long is a PM-KUSUM empanelment valid?+
A PM-KUSUM empanelment is valid for a period set by each state nodal agency, after which you renew it. Validity terms differ by SNA and are revised periodically, so there is no single national rule. Confirm the current validity and renewal process with the relevant SNA before you rely on a fixed period.
Sources & references
The empanelment framework comes from MNRE and each state nodal agency notice. Treat all fees, EMD and validity terms as estimates and confirm the current process with the SNA before you apply.
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) ↗
Scheme guidelines and empanelment framework.
- PM-KUSUM National Portal ↗
Scheme dashboard and state links.
- SECI ↗
Model empanelment and tender documents.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MNRE, PM-KUSUM portal & SECI sources · updated 19 June 2026.
Method: The empanelment steps are taken from the government sources above and re-checked every 30 days. All fees, EMD and eligibility thresholds are estimates to confirm with the SNA notice and the live tender. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 19 Jun 2026 — first published.