**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has expanded the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) framework to include solar ingots and wafers under List-III, effective 1 June 2028. This expansion aims to reduce import dependence and strengthen India's domestic solar manufacturing ecosystem by mandating domestic sourcing for these components. Key deadlines include a cut-off date for bids seven days after the publication of the initial List-III, after which compliance becomes mandatory for projects under Section 63.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Implementation Timelines and Thresholds**
* **Effective Date:** From 1 June 2028, all solar projects, including net-metering and open-access projects, must use ALMM-listed wafers.
* **Cut-Off Date:** Seven days after the publication of the initial ALMM List-III for wafers; any bids submitted under the Section 63 route after this date must specify the use of compliant wafers.
* **Issuance Threshold:** The initial ALMM List-III will only be published once at least three independent manufacturing units (not under common control) achieve a combined domestic capacity of 15 GW.
**Manufacturing and Quality Requirements**
* **Mandatory Ingot Capacity:** Manufacturers seeking wafer enlistment in List-III must also possess equivalent ingot manufacturing capacity to promote upstream integration.
* **Module List Integrity:** From the effective date, ALMM List-I (Solar PV modules) will exclusively include modules manufactured using both ALMM-listed cells and ALMM-listed wafers.
* **Quality Standards:** The framework acts as a reliability standard to ensure solar equipment meets domestic manufacturing requirements and supports traceability from wafer to module.
**Project and Policy Provisions**
* **Grandfathering:** Separate lists and provisions are established for pipeline projects to prevent disruption to existing commitments.
* **DCR Compliance:** This order does not override or dilute any existing Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) provisions under current MNRE schemes.
**Impact Analysis**
**Solar Ingot and Wafer Manufacturers**
**Impact**
Manufacturers will benefit from increased domestic demand and a more secure supply chain, but they face stricter requirements regarding integrated production.
**Action Required**
Must ensure they possess equivalent manufacturing capacity for both ingots and wafers and apply for enlistment in ALMM List-III once the 15 GW national threshold is met.
**Solar Module and Cell Manufacturers**
**Impact**
Module manufacturers will be restricted to sourcing only ALMM-compliant cells and wafers to maintain their own List-I enlistment status after June 2028.
**Action Required**
Update procurement and manufacturing processes to ensure all components (cells and wafers) used in modules are sourced from ALMM-listed suppliers by the effective date.
**Project Developers and Bidders**
**Impact**
Developers of all projects, including open-access and net-metering, will be legally required to use domestically listed components, impacting sourcing costs and bid specifications.
**Action Required**
Bidders must specify the use of ALMM List-III compliant wafers in all Section 63 bids submitted after the cut-off date and ensure all project commissions after 1 June 2028 comply with the new sourcing rules.
Key Entities Referenced
Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) Order, 2019: The primary quality-and-reliability framework that ensures solar equipment used in Indian projects meets domestic manufacturing standards.
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE): The central ministry responsible for expanding the ALMM framework and mandating domestic sourcing requirements across the solar supply chain.
ALMM List-III: A newly introduced list under the ALMM framework specifically for solar Ingots and Wafers to deepen domestic value addition and reduce import reliance.
Section 63, Electricity Act, 2003: The legal provision governing the competitive bidding route for power projects to which the mandatory ALMM compliance applies.
Pralhad Joshi: Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy who announced the expansion of the ALMM framework to include upstream solar manufacturing components.
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
Government Extends ALMM Framework to Solar
Ingots and Wafers; To Come into Effect from 1
June 2028
Expansion of ALMM Framework to Strengthen Domestic
Solar Manufacturing: Shri Pralhad Joshi
Move to deepen domestic value addition across the solar
supply chain, reduce reliance on imports, and reinforce
India's ambition to become a global solar manufacturing hub
Posted On: 18 MAR 2026 9:34AM by PIB Delhi
MNRE has expanded the ALMM Order to introduce ALMM List-III for Ingots and Wafers, which will
take effect from 1 June 2028. Suitable grandfathering provisions have been built in to protect projects
already in the pipeline. The current order of MNRE, extends mandatory sourcing requirements from
ALMM lists, already in place for modules and cells, one step further up the solar supply chain to include
the ingots and wafers, which currently remains heavily import-dependent
Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Joshi, said that it is a decisive step towards
strengthening India’s solar manufacturing ecosystem. The Minister said that the move will boost domestic
production, enhance supply chain resilience, reduce import dependence, and ensure higher quality
standards across the solar value chain.
Strengthening India’s solar future ☀🇮🇳
With the expansion of the ALMM framework to include ingots and wafers, India
takes a decisive step towards building a robust, self-reliant solar manufacturing
ecosystem.
This move will boost domestic production, strengthen supply chains,… pic.twitte
r.com/MPyF1ANnXp
— Pralhad Joshi (@JoshiPralhad) March 18, 2026
Key Provisions
Effective Date: 1st June 2028 - the date from which ALL projects must use ALMM-listed wafers
including Net metering/ open access projects.
Cut-Off Date: 7 days after the initial list of ALMM List-III for wafers, is published. Bids submitted
under Sec 63 route, after this date must mandatorily specify use of ALMM List III compliantwafers.
Threshold for issuing the initial list: At least 3 independent manufacturing units (not under
common ownership or control) with a combined capacity of 15 GW, ensuring the list is issued only
when this minimum domestic supply is available.
Mandatory ingot capacity: Manufacturers seeking enlistment in ALMM List-III for wafers, must
also have equivalent ingot manufacturing capacity, promoting upstream integration for ingots.
Module list integrity: Effective Date onwards, ALMM List-I (Solar PV modules) will include only
such modules which are manufactured using ALMM-listed cells and wafers. Separate lists will be
maintained for grandfathered projects to avoid disruption.
DCR provisions: This Order does not dilute or override any Domestic Content Requirement (DCR)
provisions under the existing MNRE schemes.
Expected Benefits
Wafers are the critical intermediate stage between polysilicon and solar cells. India currently has limited
domestic wafer manufacturing capacity and relies substantially on imports.
The introduction of ALMM List-III is expected to:
Drive investment into ingot and wafer manufacturing facilities in India;
Improve supply chain security and reduce vulnerability to import disruptions;
Ensure quality and traceability of solar components all the way from wafer to module;
Create skilled employment in upstream solar manufacturing;
This expansion of ALMM represents an important step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat and the country’s
commitment to achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.
Background
India's Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) Order, 2019 is a quality-and-reliability
framework that ensures solar equipment used in the country’s solar projects meet the domestic
manufacturing standards. It applies for projects awarded through competitive bidding under Sec
63,Electricity Act,2003 and for net-metering or open-access projects.
Since ALMM was introduced, domestic solar manufacturing has expanded significantly. ALMM List-I
(solar PV modules) has grown from 8.2 GW in 2021 to around 172 GW currently. ALMM List-II (solar
PV cells), introduced more recently, has already reached 27 GW within seven months, demonstrating the
framework's effectiveness in stimulating domestic investment.
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Navin Sreejith
(Release ID: 2241551) Visitor Counter : 833
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