0
By clicking the button, I accept the Terms of Use of the service and its Privacy Policy, as well as consent to the processing of personal data.
Don’t have an account? Signup
Powered by :
Non-DCR Solar Panels Can Be Used Under PM Surya Ghar Under ‘Give It Up’ Option: MNRE Photograph: (Manish Kumar/Saur Energy)
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has clarified that residential rooftop solar consumers under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSG: MBY) who opt for net metering through the scheme’s “Give It Up” category will be exempted from the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II requirement for solar photovoltaic (PV) cells until March 31, 2027.
In an office memorandum, the ministry addressed industry queries regarding the applicability of ALMM List-II for consumers choosing to forgo Central Financial Assistance (CFA) under the PM Surya Ghar scheme. That’s Rs 78,000 worth of subsidy on a 3 kW system. 
The clarification follows an earlier MNRE order dated May 25, 2026, which introduced ALMM List-II requirements for solar PV cells. The ministry noted that consumers opting out of CFA through the “Give It Up” option are intended to help extend the benefits of the rooftop solar programme to a wider section of consumers.
According to MNRE, residential consumers installing rooftop solar systems under the PM Surya Ghar scheme and availing net metering while selecting the “Give It Up” option will not be required to use ALMM-listed solar PV cells for projects commissioned up to March 31, 2027. However, such applications must be submitted through the PM Surya Ghar National Portal.
The ministry further clarified that beneficiaries covered under this exemption will not be required to separately apply on the Digital Clearance and Registration (DCR) Portal of the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) for ALMM List-II exemption.
The exemption is limited to residential rooftop solar projects under the PM Surya Ghar scheme. MNRE stated that all other rooftop solar installations outside the ambit of the programme will continue to be governed by the existing ALMM regulations and related orders.
The memorandum, approved by the Secretary, MNRE, has been circulated to state energy departments, distribution companies (DISCOMs), renewable energy agencies, and other stakeholders for necessary action.
The clarification is expected to provide greater flexibility for residential rooftop solar consumers participating in the PM Surya Ghar programme, while supporting the government’s target of accelerating rooftop solar adoption across the country.
The MNRE’s clarification permitting the use of non-DCR solar modules for a specific category of PM Surya Ghar beneficiaries is likely to provide vendors with greater flexibility amid the ongoing shortage of DCR-compliant modules. Industry participants have repeatedly pointed to a supply crunch in the domestic market, citing limited manufacturing capacity and rising demand for DCR modules.
The latest clarification could encourage vendors to promote non-DCR solar modules to prospective residential rooftop solar consumers, as these modules are generally available at lower prices and can be sourced more easily. However, convincing consumers to forgo central subsidies of up to Rs 78,000, along with state subsidies of up to Rs 30,000 available in several states, is likely to remain a significant challenge, severely limiting uptake.
There is also a possibility that some vendors may encourage consumers to opt for non-subsidised rooftop solar systems by citing the shortage of DCR modules and potential delays in project execution. Or making a case for better quality with Non-DCR modules, especially if imported. Industry observers also caution that instances of misinformation cannot be ruled out, with some less scrupulous vendors potentially downplaying or misrepresenting the availability of subsidies under government-backed schemes to uninformed consumers.
While a small section of consumers may choose to forego subsidies in favour of quicker installations or lower upfront system costs, such cases are expected to remain limited. For most middle-class households, the financial benefits offered under the PM Surya Ghar scheme remain substantial and a key trigger.
The economics become even more relevant at a time when rooftop solar prices are already witnessing an upward trend. Some vendors are now quoting prices of up to Rs 3 lakh for a 3 kW residential rooftop solar system, although most low- and mid-segment installers continue to offer similar systems in the Rs 1.8 lakh to Rs 2.3 lakh range. With the DCR mandate increasing procurement costs for compliant modules, rooftop solar prices could witness further escalation in the coming months. With module costs in the DCR case almost twice as much as non-DCR, there is a point at which non-subsidy systemns might actually have a chance, if average quoted price for a DCR compliant system reaches 3.0 lacs or higher on average.  
We are India’s leading B2B media house, reporting full-time on solar energy, wind, battery storage, solar inverters, and electric vehicle (EV)
Quick Links
© 2025 Saur Energy. All Rights Reserved.

source