DCR vs Non-DCR Solar Panels in Kerala: Subsidy and ALMM Rules Explained
If you are planning rooftop solar in Kerala, the choice between DCR vs non-DCR solar panels decides two things: whether you can claim the central subsidy, and which approval lists your panels and cells must appear on. Both look the same on a roof. The difference is where the cells inside were made.
This guide explains DCR, what MNRE's ALMM List-I and List-II mean for a home plant, and how to check a model before you sign a quote. It is based on PM Surya Ghar scheme guidelines and MNRE orders up to August 2026.
Quick answer
Want the PM Surya Ghar subsidy? Choose DCR panels whose exact model is on ALMM List-I.
Without the subsidy, non-DCR panels are allowed, but net metering still needs a List-I model.
Cells are exempt from List-II for plants commissioned by 31 December 2026, and for Give It Up homes applying on the national portal until 31 March 2027.
Key takeaways
- DCR (Domestic Content Requirement) means a module made in India from solar cells also made in India.
- Only DCR solar panels qualify for the PM Surya Ghar central subsidy.
- Every grid-connected home plant, DCR or not, needs a panel model on ALMM List-I.
- Net-metered plants commissioned after 31 December 2026 also need ALMM List-II cells.
- Give It Up homes that applied on the national portal are exempt from List-II until 31 March 2027.
DCR vs non-DCR solar panels: the plain difference
DCR stands for Domestic Content Requirement. Under the MNRE guidelines for PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, a DCR panel is a module manufactured in India from solar cells that are also manufactured in India. A non-DCR panel is any module that fails that test, such as one assembled in India from imported cells.
So a panel from an Indian brand and factory can still be non-DCR. The origin of the cells decides it.
Why DCR matters for the solar panel subsidy
DCR is an essential condition for central financial assistance (CFA), the central subsidy under PM Surya Ghar. The scheme guidelines (Para 5(m)) say that using non-DCR modules in any form makes the installation ineligible.
No ALMM exemption changes this. MNRE's order of 4 August 2026 says ALMM orders have no impact on Domestic Content Requirement provisions, which stay governed by each scheme's own guidelines. For the application process, see our guide to the PM Surya Ghar subsidy in Kerala.
When non-DCR panels are allowed
Non-DCR panels are allowed when you do not take the subsidy. The same guidelines say consumers who install rooftop solar without CFA, including those who give it up under the Give It Up campaign, are free to do so without domestically manufactured cells or modules. A grid-connected plant still needs an ALMM-listed panel model, though.
DCR vs non-DCR solar panels compared
| Point | DCR panels | Non-DCR panels |
|---|---|---|
| What it means | Made in India with India-made cells | Any other module, such as one assembled in India from imported cells |
| PM Surya Ghar subsidy | Eligible, if other scheme conditions are met | Not eligible |
| ALMM List-I model needed | Yes | Yes for any net-metered or net-billed plant; not for a behind-the-meter plant with no export |
| ALMM List-II cells, by commissioning date | Exempt if commissioned by 31 December 2026; required after that | Same rule; Give It Up homes that applied on the national portal are exempt until 31 March 2027 |
| Typical buyer | Homes claiming the central subsidy | Homes installing without the subsidy, including Give It Up households |
Prices differ between DCR and non-DCR ranges and change often, so compare quotes on net cost after any subsidy, with exact model codes and tax shown separately. See our guide to GST on solar panels.
DCR is about where cells are made, not the types of solar panel
DCR is not a kind of panel. The types of solar panel you see on quotes, such as mono PERC, TOPCon, bifacial or older polycrystalline panels, describe the cell technology and build. DCR only describes where the cells and module were made.
So in any DCR vs non-DCR solar panels decision, technology is a separate question. Technology affects performance; DCR status decides subsidy eligibility.
Can a mono PERC solar panel be DCR?
Yes. A mono PERC solar panel can be DCR or non-DCR, depending on whether its cells were made in India. The same is true for TOPCon and bifacial panels. A quote that only says "mono PERC panels" is not enough: ask for the exact model code and its DCR status in writing.
Solar panel manufacturers in India and DCR ranges
Major solar panel manufacturers in India sell DCR ranges alongside other products, so a brand being Indian or ALMM-listed does not make every panel DCR. What counts is the exact model on your quote, matched to its List-I row, plus written DCR confirmation for subsidy cases.
To shortlist brands, see the best solar panels in Kerala, then check each model as shown below.
What the ALMM list means: List-I and List-II
ALMM is MNRE's Approved List of Models and Manufacturers, set up under an order of 2 January 2019 so that panels and cells are really made in the factories that claim them.
| List | Covers | First issued | Latest version (late September 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| List-I | Solar PV modules (panels) | 10 March 2021 | File dated 16 September 2026 |
| List-II | Solar PV cells | 31 July 2025 | 9th revision, dated 21 August 2026 |
MNRE's ALMM page says only models and manufacturers on List-I may be used in projects under Government schemes and in net-metering projects. Its 4 August 2026 order adds that net metering here also covers net billing, gross metering, virtual net metering and group net metering. For flats, that includes virtual net metering for apartments.
So every home plant that exports to the grid under KSEB net metering needs a List-I panel model, DCR or not. The reverse is not true: being on List-I does not make a panel DCR.
When your home plant needs ALMM List-II solar cells
List-II covers the cells. Whether you need List-II cells depends on how your plant connects to the grid and when it is commissioned (switched on), not when you ordered it.
| Home plant | Panels: ALMM List-I | Cells: ALMM List-II |
|---|---|---|
| Net-metered, commissioned by 31 December 2026 | Required | Exempt |
| Net-metered, commissioned after 31 December 2026 | Required | Required |
| Give It Up home that applied on the national portal | Required | Exempt until 31 March 2027 |
| Behind-the-meter, own use only, no export | Not required | Not required |
How the cell deadline changed
The cell rule has changed more than once, so older quotes may disagree.
- 28 July 2025: PIB reported that ALMM cells would be mandatory for projects commissioned from 1 June 2026.
- 25 May 2026: PIB reported no blanket extension, with case-by-case claims by developers on a NISE portal by 30 June 2026. The portal was later reopened until 23 July 2026.
- 18 July 2026: an MNRE order replaced the May decision. Net-metering projects, including home rooftop plants, can be commissioned without List-II cells until 31 December 2026.
- 4 August 2026: MNRE clarified that this exemption needs no application on the NISE portal and applies whether the project started before or after 18 July 2026.
The same order exempts Give It Up homes from List-II until 31 March 2027, when the scheme ends (PIB, 25 May 2026). They must apply only through the national portal, and their panels must still be on List-I.
Behind-the-meter plants with no export
A behind-the-meter plant, used only for your own home and never exporting to the grid, is outside both lists under the 4 August 2026 order. In Kerala such a plant must be intimated to KSEB before connection (Regulation 9.2), cannot exceed your connected load (Regulation 9.4) and needs a reverse power flow relay so no energy reaches the grid (Regulation 9.5).
A grid-connected plant instead needs KSEB to approve technical feasibility first; see KSEB solar feasibility and transformer capacity.
How to check a panel or cell model on the ALMM list
- Open the ALMM section on the MNRE website and go to Relevant Documents. The newest files are at the top.
- For panels, open the newest "List-I under ALMM order for Solar PV Modules" file. In late September 2026 that is the one dated 16 September 2026.
- Search the file (Ctrl+F) for the exact model code on the panel datasheet or nameplate, in the Enlisted Models column.
- In the same row, check the manufacturer name, factory location and Validity To date. A listing stays valid only while its BIS registration is valid.
- For cells, ask the installer for the cell maker and model, then search the newest List-II revision (the 9th, dated 21 August 2026) for that maker, factory and model.
- Save the matching rows as a PDF or screenshot and keep it with your quote.
Choosing DCR or non-DCR for a Kerala home
Start with one question: will you claim the central subsidy?
If you will claim the solar panel subsidy
PM Surya Ghar is the main government solar panel scheme for homes. Under it, your installer must supply DCR panels and the exact model must be on List-I. If the plant will be commissioned after 31 December 2026, the cell maker and model must also be on List-II.
Keep the DCR statement and ALMM screenshots with your solar documents checklist. After you apply, see how to track PM Surya Ghar application status in Kerala.
If you will not claim the subsidy
Non-DCR panels are an option, but grid-connected plants still need a List-I model. If commissioning falls after 31 December 2026, check List-II cells too, unless you are a Give It Up home that applied on the national portal (exempt until 31 March 2027).
What FGE Solar checks before quoting panels
Before any residential solar quote, the FGE Solar team checks:
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Subsidy route (PM Surya Ghar or not) | Decides whether the panels must be DCR |
| Panel make and exact model on ALMM List-I | Required for every net-metered home plant |
| Written DCR confirmation | Protects your subsidy claim |
| Cell maker and model on ALMM List-II | Needed if commissioning falls after 31 December 2026 |
| Expected commissioning month | The List-II test looks at the commissioning date, not the order date |
These checks take minutes and prevent installing the wrong panels for your subsidy route.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get the PM Surya Ghar subsidy with non-DCR panels?
No. The scheme guidelines say non-DCR modules in any form make the installation ineligible for central financial assistance. MNRE's August 2026 order adds that ALMM exemptions do not relax this.
Do non-DCR panels have to be ALMM-listed?
Yes, for any net-metered or net-billed home plant. MNRE allows only List-I models in those projects. A behind-the-meter plant used only for your own consumption is the exception.
Is every ALMM-listed panel a DCR panel?
No. List-I approves module models and their factories, while DCR also demands Indian-made cells. For the subsidy you need both: the guidelines require DCR and ask that modules follow the ALMM order.
My home plant will be switched on in January 2027. Do the cells need ALMM List-II?
Yes. The List-II exemption covers net-metering projects commissioned by 31 December 2026. A Give It Up home that applied on the national portal is exempt until 31 March 2027.
Do I have to apply to MNRE to use the List-II exemption?
No. MNRE's 4 August 2026 order says the exemption for plants commissioned by 31 December 2026 needs no application on the NISE portal. It applies whether the project started before or after 18 July 2026.
Can a mono PERC solar panel be a DCR panel?
Yes. DCR depends on where the cells and module are made, not on the technology. A mono PERC, TOPCon or bifacial panel can be DCR or non-DCR, so check the exact model code and ask for DCR status in writing.
Official sources and accuracy note
- 01MNRE Guidelines for PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (July 2024), Para 5(m) on Domestic Content Requirement (pmsuryaghar.gov.in)
- 02MNRE O.M. No. 283/53/2026-GRID SOLAR (18 July 2026) and O.M. No. 283/54/2026-GRID SOLAR (4 August 2026) on ALMM List-II, plus the ALMM order of 2 January 2019, List-I (16 September 2026) and List-II 9th revision (21 August 2026) (mnre.gov.in)
- 03PIB releases of 28 July 2025 and 25 May 2026; MNRE notice (July 2026) on the NISE portal
- 04KSERC (Renewable Energy and Related Matters) Regulations, 2025: Regulations 9.2, 9.4 and 9.5 (erckerala.org)
This guide summarises official guidelines and orders as of 29 September 2026. ALMM lists and deadlines change often. Please check the latest official documents before you pay, apply or file a complaint.
Not sure if your quote uses DCR panels or an ALMM-listed model? Send it to us and we will check its DCR vs non-DCR solar panels status and ALMM listing before you pay. Request a free panel check from FGE Solar, a solar company in Kerala that handles the subsidy and KSEB paperwork end to end.