The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has introduced a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) mandating a country-coded model-numbering system for Solar PV Modules registered under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

Issued on October 1, 2026, the new SOP is aimed at strengthening product traceability, transparency and consistency across India’s solar manufacturing ecosystem by providing clear information on the manufacturing origin of both modules and the solar cells incorporated in them.

Four-Character Country Code Made Mandatory

Under the new framework, all new registrations and inclusions of Solar PV Module models must carry a four-character country identifier as a suffix to the model number.

The prescribed format is: Model Number – MMCC

Here: MM represents the country where the solar module is manufactured.

CC represents the country where the solar cells incorporated in the module are manufactured.

The country identifiers will follow the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 international standard.

The four-character suffix will form an integral part of the official model number and must be reflected consistently in the product’s certification, labelling and marking.

The new system is intended to give regulators, customers and other stakeholders greater visibility into the manufacturing origin of solar modules and their cells.

Country-Specific Cell Sourcing to Require Separate Model Numbers

The new SOP also introduces specific requirements concerning the Bill of Materials (BOM).

A single country-coded model number cannot cover solar cells sourced from multiple countries. Therefore, if a manufacturer uses cells produced in different countries under the same base module model, separate model numbers with the applicable country codes will have to be created for each configuration.

However, manufacturers can use solar cells supplied by multiple cell manufacturers located within the same country under a single model number. This will be permitted provided that the relevant cell manufacturer and cell model details are clearly identified in the approved BOM.

Existing BIS-Registered Models Also Covered

The new requirements will also apply to solar PV module models that are already registered under BIS.

Manufacturers will have to generate corresponding additional country-coded model numbers for existing models where required. However, where the change only involves restricting or separating existing approved cell sources, without introducing new materials or making changes to the manufacturing process, fresh testing will not be required.

In such cases, testing laboratories will issue supplementary test reports based on documentary verification.

Manufacturers will not be required to pay additional testing fees, except for applicable minor administrative charges. They will, however, need to submit the required documentation, including:

• Verified Bill of Materials (BOM)
• Solar cell model numbers
• Cell manufacturer details
• Compliance declaration

These documents will have to be submitted to the concerned testing laboratories for verification.

180-Day Transition Period for Existing Manufacturers

MNRE has provided existing manufacturers with 180 days from October 1, 2026, to complete the updated registration process and comply with the new country-coded model-numbering requirements.

After the transition period, BIS will not process or accept model registration applications that do not comply with the prescribed country-coded naming system.

Consistent Model Numbering Across All Documents

The new framework also requires manufacturers to ensure that the complete country-coded model number approved by BIS is used consistently across all relevant product and certification documents.

The approved model number must be reflected on:

• Product labels and markings
• Technical datasheets
• Test reports
• BIS certificates
• Module datasheets
• Other documents wherever the model number is required

Strengthening Traceability Across India’s Solar Supply Chain

The introduction of country-coded model numbers represents an important step towards greater transparency and traceability in India’s solar PV manufacturing sector.

By clearly identifying both the country of module manufacturing and the country of cell manufacturing, the new system can help regulators and industry stakeholders establish a more transparent link between a registered module model and its underlying manufacturing configuration.

For manufacturers, the new SOP also highlights the importance of maintaining accurate and up-to-date BOM records, cell sourcing information and certification documentation.

As India’s domestic solar manufacturing capacity continues to expand, the country-coded model-numbering framework is expected to provide a more consistent mechanism for identifying and tracking module configurations within the BIS registration system.

About Indosol Solar

Indosol Solar Pvt. Ltd., the solar PV manufacturing arm of Shirdi Sai Electricals Limited, is driving India’s renewable energy ambitions through the development of a fully integrated, giga-scale solar PV manufacturing ecosystem. The company is building capabilities across the entire solar value chain right from quartz processing to high-efficiency solar photovoltaic modules.

Indosol Solar has commenced operations with a 500 MW solar module manufacturing facility at Ramayapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, which has been expanded to 1.3 GW facility. As part of its rapid growth strategy, the company is progressing toward its vision of establishing 10 GW of integrated solar PV manufacturing capacity by 2028, supporting India’s transition towards energy self-reliance and sustainable development.