Two terms decide whether your panels qualify for government-backed schemes such as PM Surya Ghar. Getting either wrong is one of the most common reasons subsidy claims are rejected.
DCR: made with Indian cells
DCR stands for domestic content requirement. A DCR panel is made with solar cells manufactured in India, not just assembled here. PM Surya Ghar requires DCR panels, and they usually cost a little more than non-DCR ones.
ALMM: the approved list
The Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) is maintained by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. It lists the panel models and factories cleared for government-backed projects. A panel must be both DCR and on the ALMM list to qualify for the subsidy.
How to check before you pay
- Ask the installer for the exact panel model number and the manufacturer’s DCR certificate.
- Check that the model appears on the current ALMM list.
- Make sure the invoice shows the same model and serial numbers as the panels on your roof.
- Keep the certificate with your subsidy papers. How to check it on the government portal, with screenshots, is in DCR vs non-DCR solar panels.
Example
Two quotes for a 3 kW system differ by ₹15,000. The cheaper one uses non-DCR panels. After the subsidy, the DCR system ends up about ₹63,000 cheaper, because only it qualifies for the ₹78,000 subsidy.
Related: net metering.
Sources
Figures last checked on 26 September 2026.