Govt declines blanket extension for ALMM solar cell norms beyond June 2026
New Delhi, May 25
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy on Monday announced that it has decided not to grant a blanket extension for the applicability of Approved List of Models and Manufacturers List-II for solar photovoltaic cells beyond June 1, 2026, after reviewing industry representations and conducting wider stakeholder consultations.
In an official statement, the ministry said projects commissioned after June 1, 2026 will have to comply with the ALMM List-II provisions for solar PV cells, while Net-Metering and Open Access projects commissioned before the deadline will remain exempt under the existing framework.
The ministry noted that it had received mixed representations from stakeholders, with some seeking an extension of the deadline and others opposing any relaxation.
During the review process, MNRE also considered an Office Memorandum issued by the Department of Expenditure under the Ministry of Finance on April 29, 2026, which advised that the ongoing West Asia situation may be treated as war and suggested that extensions, if necessary, should be granted only on the basis of specific cases instead of through a blanket policy.
Following a detailed assessment, the ministry concluded that there was no need for a universal extension of the ALMM List-II deadline.
However, the government said certain renewable energy projects would still be eligible for time extensions on a case-to-case basis in order to protect investments already made in the sector.
According to the ministry, projects where solar module installation has already been completed but commissioning is pending, or projects where substantial implementation steps have already been undertaken, may be considered for relief.
These steps include land acquisition, financial closure, connectivity arrangements, approval of electrical drawings and the arrival or installation of solar modules.
The ministry said developers seeking an extension beyond June 1, 2026 must submit claims along with documentary proof through a dedicated portal developed by the National Institute of Solar Energy on or before June 30, 2026.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting decision. The West Asia situation justifying a "war" classification seems like a stretch, but I understand the need for domestic manufacturing boost. However, India's solar targets are ambitious - will domestic manufacturers be able to meet the demand by 2026?
As someone working in renewable energy sector, this is a mixed bag. Good for Indian cell manufacturers who've invested in capacity, but developers with projects in final stages will struggle. The government should have given at least 12-18 months transition period instead of blanket deadline. Still, Atmanirbhar Bharat needs such tough decisions.
The case-by-case approach sounds sensible given the geopolitical factors, but it lacks predictability for investors. India needs to accelerate domestic cell manufacturing capacity - the 2026 deadline is ambitious given current production levels. Will be watching this space closely.
Good move by the ministry! For too long we've depended on imported cells. But why is the exemption for net-metering and open access projects still there? Should be phased out too. Anyway, this will push domestic manufacturing. Jai Hind! 🔆
The devil is in the details. 'Substantial implementation steps' is vague - does that include preliminary surveys? My concern is small developers might get left out while big players easily get extensions. Paperwork should be minimal for genuine cases. Still, appreciate the government's effort to balance domestic industry with project viability.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.