The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) introducing a mandatory country-coded model-numbering system for Solar PV Modules registered under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Issued on October 1, 2026, the new framework is aimed at improving product traceability, transparency, and consistency across the solar manufacturing sector.

Under the updated system, all new registrations and inclusions of Solar PV Module models must include a distinct four-character country identifier as a suffix to the model number. The prescribed format is “Model Number – MMCC”. The first two characters, “MM”, will identify the country where the solar module is manufactured, while the last two characters, “CC”, will identify the country where the incorporated solar cells are manufactured. The country codes will follow the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 standard.

The country-coded suffix will become an integral part of the official model number and must be reflected in product certification and marking. The requirement is intended to provide greater visibility into the manufacturing origin of modules and their solar cells.

The SOP also establishes specific requirements for the Bill of Materials (BOM). A single country-coded model number cannot cover solar cells sourced from multiple countries. 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 manufacturers located within the same country under a single model number. This will be permitted provided the relevant cell manufacturer and model details are clearly identified in the approved BOM.

For solar PV module models that are already registered under BIS, manufacturers will have to generate corresponding additional country-coded model numbers. Where the change only involves restricting or separating existing approved cell sources, without introducing new materials or 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 need to submit verified BOM details, solar cell model numbers, manufacturer information, and a compliance declaration to the concerned testing laboratories.

MNRE has provided existing manufacturers with 180 days from October 1, 2026, to complete the updated registration process. After the deadline, BIS will not process or accept model registration applications that do not comply with the country-coded naming requirement.

The approved model numbers must be consistently displayed on product labels, technical datasheets, test reports, and BIS certificates.