Solar Inverters BIS Exemption for Imports Extended by Six More Months to 31 December 2026

Ø Indian manufacturers are not able to compete with Chinese ones in both quality and price.

Ø Inverters convert DC current photo voltaic to AC for households.

Ø Limiting Inverter manufacture to approved suppliers for solar cells is a regulatory barrier against consumer interest.

· The Central Government has issued S.O. 3706(E) under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016.

· The notification relates to the implementation of the Solar Systems, Devices and Components Goods Order, 2025, which replaced the earlier Solar Photovoltaics, Systems, Devices and Components Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2017.

· The 2025 Order, issued on 27 January 2025, covers five categories of solar systems, devices, and components, with implementation originally scheduled 180 days after its publication.

· Earlier, manufacturers of Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) Inverters (Items 4 and 5) with capacity exceeding 200 kW were allowed to comply through self-certification up to 30 June 2026 (or until further orders), due to limited testing infrastructure.

· Considering the continued shortage of accredited testing facilities and to provide additional time for compliance, the Government has extended the self-certification facility until 31 December 2026, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

· The extension applies only to SPV inverters with capacity above 200 kW (Items 4 and 5 of the Order).

· Manufacturers availing the extension must possess:

o Valid IEC certificates corresponding to the prescribed Indian Standards.

o Test reports from accredited testing laboratories.

· Applicable standards include:

o Item 4: IS 16221 (Part 2):2015/IEC 62109-2:2011 and IS/IEC 61683:1999.

o Item 5: IS 16221 (Part 2):2015/IEC 62109-2:2011, IS 16169:2019/IEC 62116:2014, and IS 17980:2022/IEC 62891:2020.

· The extension is intended to ensure a smooth implementation of the quality control order while adequate testing infrastructure becomes available.

[MoN&RE Notification S.O. 3706(E) dated 3 July, 2026]

S.O. 3706(E).— whereas in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 16 read with section 17 and sub-section (3) of section 25 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 (11 of 2016) and in supersession of the Solar Photovoltaics, Systems, Devices and Components Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2017, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such supersession, the Central Government had issued “Solar Systems, Devices and Components Goods Order, 2025” vide S.O. 492 (E) dated 27.01.2025 for five products included in the table with the date of coming into force on the expiry of one hundred and eighty days from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. And whereas, self- certification for SPV inverters (items 4-5) of the capacity of more than 200 kW (>200 kW) was extended up to 30.06.2026 or till further orders, whichever is earlier vide S.O. 3597 (E) published in Gazette of India dated 05.08.2025.

2. And whereas, in view of the availability of limited test facilities and providing more time for compliance, the implementation of “Solar Systems, Devices and Components Goods Order, 2025” for SPV inverters (items 4-5) of the capacity more than 200 kW (i.e., >200kW) stands extended till 31.12.2026 or till further orders, whichever is earlier, based on self-certification, subject to the condition that such manufacturers have valid IEC certificates corresponding to Indian standards (IS 16221 (Part 2): 2015/ IEC 62109-2: 2011 &IS/IEC 61683: 1999 for item No 4 and IS 16221 (Part 2): 2015/ IEC 62109-2: 2011, IS 16169: 2019/ IEC 62116: 2014 & IS 17980: 2022/IEC 62891:2020 for item No. 5), specified in the said order for these items and test reports from accredited test labs, for smooth implementation of the order.

[F. No. 223/140/2017-R and D COORD]