POLICY CALENDAR

Solar Deadlines in India: PM Surya Ghar, ALMM and DCR Dates

Three dates decide how and when to go solar in India in 2026–27: ALMM List-II (in force since 1 June 2026), the 31 December 2026 cutoff for non-DCR panels on net-metering projects, and the 31 March 2027 end of the PM Surya Ghar subsidy window. Each is below with what it means, who it affects and where to confirm it.

Checked October 2026. Policy windows get revised — confirm on the official source before you sign a contract.

  1. 1 June 2026

    In force

    ALMM List-II (domestic solar cells) became mandatory for most projects

    From this date, modules must be built with List-II approved domestic cells for most projects. Government and PSU-tendered projects have no exemption at all.

    Who it affects: Government and PSU tenders; any project not covered by the net-metering and open-access relief below.

    Source: MNRE ALMM orders, via mnre.gov.in. Checked October 2026.

  2. 31 December 2026

    Open until then

    Last day to commission net-metering and open-access projects with non-DCR panels

    ALMM List-II (domestic solar cells) became mandatory for most projects from 1 June 2026 — government/PSU tenders have no exemption. Net-metering and open-access renewable projects specifically got relief: those commissioned on or before 31 December 2026 can still use non-DCR (imported-cell) panels; from 1 January 2027 they too must use ALMM List-II compliant panels. What counts is your commissioning date (DISCOM inspection + grid sync), not your order date.

    Who it affects: Commercial, industrial and MSME rooftops on net metering or open access — and housing societies that are not claiming the residential subsidy.

    Source: MNRE OM No. 283/53/2026-GRID SOLAR (18 Jul 2026), via mnre.gov.in. Checked October 2026.

  3. 31 March 2027

    Open until then

    PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana: end of the sanctioned programme period

    The ₹78,000 central residential subsidy is sanctioned through the end of FY 2026-27 (31 March 2027). Apply and get commissioned well before this date. No extension has been officially notified; MNRE has indicated the one-crore-household target may fall short by March 2027, which makes an extension plausible but not assured — plan around the published date.

    Who it affects: Homeowners and residential welfare associations planning a subsidised rooftop system. Subsidised homes already need DCR modules.

    Source: pmsuryaghar.gov.in. Checked October 2026.

What to Do, Depending on Who You Are

  • A homeowner wanting the ₹78,000 subsidy. Register on the national portal now rather than in the last quarter. Work backwards from 31 March 2027: feasibility approval, installation and inspection can take weeks to months, and demand bunches up near deadlines. Calculate your subsidy
  • An MSME or commercial roof on net metering. Your commissioning date, not your order date, decides whether imported-cell panels are still allowed. If commissioning could slip past 31 December 2026, plan for domestic-cell (List-II) pricing and supply now. Read the brief
  • A housing society or institution. Check whether you are claiming a subsidy (DCR modules already required) or going commercial net metering (the December date applies). The two routes have different panel rules. DCR vs non-DCR explained

State-Level Dates

State top-ups and state portals run on their own timelines. Where a state has announced something with a date — for example Delhi’s portal launch on 21 September 2026 — it is shown with its sources and a confidence label on that state’s page. Browse all states and UTs, or look up who runs your state’s programme in the state nodal agency list.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the last date to apply for the PM Surya Ghar subsidy?
The ₹78,000 central residential subsidy is sanctioned through the end of FY 2026-27, 31 March 2027 (checked October 2026). No extension had been officially notified. A typical claim — registration, DISCOM feasibility, installation, net-meter inspection, subsidy credit — takes weeks to a few months, so applying well before the date matters more than the date itself.
What happens on 31 December 2026 for non-DCR solar panels?
Net-metering and open-access renewable projects commissioned on or before 31 December 2026 can still use non-DCR (imported-cell) panels. From 1 January 2027 they must use ALMM List-II compliant panels with domestic cells. The test is your commissioning date — DISCOM inspection and grid synchronisation — not your order or installation date.
What is ALMM List-II and when did it start?
ALMM List-I governs solar modules; List-II governs the solar cell inside them. List-II became mandatory for most projects from 1 June 2026, and government or PSU-tendered projects have no exemption. Net-metering and open-access projects got the limited relief above.
Do homes that claim the PM Surya Ghar subsidy already need DCR panels?
Yes. Subsidised residential systems already require DCR (domestic content) modules, regardless of the 31 December 2026 window, which applies to net-metering and open-access projects that are not claiming that subsidy.
Will these deadlines be extended?
Nobody can promise it. MNRE’s Secretary was reported in September 2026 as saying the PM Surya Ghar scheme is likely to reach about 85–90 lakh households by March 2027 against a one-crore target, which makes an extension plausible but not confirmed; MNRE has said there is no blanket extension of the non-DCR window. Plan around the published dates and confirm on pmsuryaghar.gov.in and mnre.gov.in.
PM Surya Ghar 2027 deadline briefALMM List-I vs List-II decodedPM Surya Ghar complete guideSolar system price by sizeWhat is ALMM?

Know someone planning solar? Send them the dates.