DCR vs non-DCR solar modules: what installers need to know

What the two terms mean

DCR is the domestic content requirement. It is written into certain ministry schemes, and it asks that the solar modules supplied under the scheme be made in India from cells that are also made in India. A module that does not meet the condition, or whose status cannot be verified, is a non-DCR module for the purposes of that scheme.

Neither word describes quality. A non-DCR module can be a sound product, and a DCR module is not stronger or more efficient because of the label. The label tells you whether the module can be used under a scheme that asks for it.

Which projects ask for DCR

The ministry's office memorandum on the DCR verification portal names the schemes that mandate it: the public-sector undertaking scheme, the residential rooftop scheme PM Surya Ghar, and the farm solar scheme PM-KUSUM. Under those schemes, a module whose DCR status cannot be verified on the portal is not accepted.

A private project that takes no scheme subsidy is not bound by the scheme condition. It can still meet other rules, so read the ALMM section below before you assume that any module will do.

• Subsidy through a ministry scheme: ask for DCR modules and keep the supplier's certificate.
• Net-metered project with no subsidy: DCR is not the scheme condition, but ALMM listing may still apply.
• Off-grid or backup-only project: check the scheme or tender you are quoting under, since the answer depends on it.

DCR and ALMM are separate checks

ALMM is the ministry's approved list of module and cell models and manufacturers. Its module list applies to government and scheme projects, open access projects and net-metering projects. DCR is a scheme condition verified through a portal. A model can be on the approved list and still need its DCR status checked, because the two answer different questions.

The ministry publishes dated orders on when the cell list applies and which projects are exempt. Those orders change, so read the current ones on the source page for the project you are quoting.

How to word the module line on a quotation

Name the module's make and model, give its rating, and state whether it is DCR or non-DCR. If it is DCR, keep the supplier's certificate on file and give the customer a copy. If you are not sure, say that the status is being confirmed, and do not promise a subsidy amount until it is.

The subsidy estimate on a quotation is indicative, and the note beside it lists DCR and ALMM-listed modules among the conditions. The estimate does not replace the scheme's own check.

What to check before you quote

Run the same short check on every project so a customer is never quoted a subsidy the modules cannot qualify for.

• Is the model on the current ALMM module list?
• Can the supplier show the module's DCR status on the ministry's verification portal?
• Does the customer's scheme or tender state any exemption or extra condition today?
• Does your DISCOM require anything beyond the scheme, such as installer registration?

Step by step

1. 1

   Name the module

   Give the make and model of the module and its rating.

2. 2

   State the status

   Say whether the module is DCR or non-DCR. If you are not sure, say that the status is being confirmed.

3. 3

   Keep the certificate

   If the module is DCR, keep the supplier's certificate on file and give the customer a copy.

4. 4

   Call the subsidy indicative

   The estimate on a quotation is indicative, and it does not replace the scheme's own check.

Common mistakes

• Reading DCR as a quality grade

  DCR is a scheme condition, not a measure of quality. Judge a module by its certification, warranty and datasheet, which belong in the bill of materials.

• Treating ALMM listing as proof of DCR

  The approved list and the DCR check answer different questions. A listed model still needs its DCR status confirmed when a scheme asks for it.

• Promising a subsidy before the status is confirmed

  If you are not sure of a module's status, say that it is being confirmed, and do not promise a subsidy amount until it is.

• Reading a summary instead of the current orders

  The ministry's dated orders on the cell list and its exemptions change, so read the current ones on the source page for the project you are quoting.

What to check before you send

• The model is on the current ALMM module list
• The supplier can show the module's DCR status on the ministry's verification portal
• The customer's scheme or tender was read for any exemption or extra condition that applies today
• Your DISCOM's own requirements, such as installer registration, were checked
• The supplier's DCR certificate is on file and the customer has a copy

Sources

• MNRE office memorandum on the DCR verification portal, read 10 Oct 2026
• MNRE: Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM), read 10 Oct 2026
• PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana national portal (not yet checked by us)