India’s solar industry is moving toward stricter quality controls and easier certification processes. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) recently released new rules for the series approval of Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) modules. This is a big step toward improving the domestic solar ecosystem.
The goal of these new rules is to make the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) registration process easier while making sure that only high-efficiency, high-quality modules are sold in India. They are meant to carry out the Solar Systems, Devices, and Components Goods Order, 2025.
Why the Revision Matters
For years, solar manufacturers had a hard time certifying module “families,” which are groups of modules that have similar designs but different power outputs. The new rules, which replace the old ones from August 2025, make it easier to define product families, cut testing costs, and speed up the time it takes for new ideas to hit the market.
Key Highlights of the Revised Guidelines
Streamlined Testing for Product Families
With the new “representative sampling” method, manufacturers don’t have to test every single wattage change in a series anymore. Instead:
- Sampling Requirements: Now, labs will test at least two modules from each of the lower-end, median, and higher-end power classes of a product family.
- Cost Efficiency: The test report will cover all the wattages in that family, but manufacturers will only have to pay for the modules that were actually tested.
- Flexibility: If there is no median power class, the next higher class is used for testing.
New Efficiency Thresholds (QCO 2025)
Quality is no longer a choice; it is a requirement that can be measured. The lowest and highest power samples in a family must meet the minimum efficiency requirements set out in the Quality Control Order (QCO) 2025 in order to get a BIS license.
- Monocrystalline & Thin-Film: Minimum 18% efficiency.
- Polycrystalline: At least 17% efficient. The median module may not need to be tested for efficiency separately if the highest and lowest modules pass and its physical area is the same as the others.
“Fewer-Cell” Variants and Retesting
The MNRE made it clear that modules with fewer cells (smaller versions of a fully tested family) do not have to be retested right away. This is a win for manufacturing flexibility. These variants can be added to the existing certification as long as the design, materials, bill of materials (BOM), and manufacturing processes are all the same as the parent “fully tested” family.
Mandatory Marking Requirements
The 2025 guidelines put a lot of emphasis on openness. Now, all solar panels must have clear, permanent markings inside the glass. These marks must have:
- Manufacturer’s name and brand.
- Model and unique serial number.
- Nominal wattage (with a tolerance of ±3%).
- Year and country of origin.
- Module efficiency at Standard Test Conditions (STC).
Testing labs have been told very clearly that they must not accept any modules that do not meet these labeling requirements.
Managing Changes in Bill of Materials (BOM)
The rules are clear: if a manufacturer wants to change a part in their BOM or change how they make something, they have to test it again. This makes sure that the solar module will still work well in the long term, even if there are changes in the supply chain, like a new backsheet or encapsulant.
Impact on the Indian Solar Industry
These changes are not just “red tape.” They show that India is serious about becoming a world leader in making high-quality solar panels. The MNRE is standardizing the “Series Approval” process by:
- Reducing Financial Burdens: Allowing family-based approvals will lower testing fees for manufacturers.
- Ensuring Grid Reliability: The government makes sure that solar plants work as promised by setting minimum efficiency levels.
- Boosting Investor Confidence: Standards that are easier to understand lower the risks for developers and investors who put money into big solar projects.
Summary: Preparing for 2025
The message is clear for manufacturers: quality and compliance are the new standards. Companies need to check their current product families and make sure that their BOM and labeling practices are in line with the new MNRE rules as the 2025 Quality Control Order goes into effect.
The MNRE is making it easier for people to register for the BIS, which will speed
