Relevance: GS III (Energy & Economy) | Source: The Indian Express
1. What is the News?
India is taking a big step to stop depending on China for solar power parts.
The New Rule: From June 2028, all government-funded solar projects must use solar Wafers and Ingots made in India.
Why it matters: Currently, India makes the final panels but imports the “raw” internal parts from China. This rule forces companies to make everything in India.
2. How a Solar Panel is Made
To understand the news, you need to see how a panel is built step-by-step:
Polysilicon: The basic raw material.
Ingot: Melted blocks of polysilicon.
Wafer: Thin slices of those blocks.
Cell: The part that actually makes electricity.
Module: The final panel you see on roofs.
The Gap: India is good at Step 5 (Modules), but we are very weak at Steps 2 and 3 (Ingots/Wafers). This new rule aims to fix this gap.
3. How will the Government enforce this?
The government maintains a “White List” called the ALMM (Approved List of Models and Manufacturers).
If a company wants to sell panels for government projects, they must be on this list.
The government will only allow companies on the list if they prove they are using Indian-made cells and, eventually, Indian-made wafers.
The “UPSC Trap”
The “Private” Trap: Does this rule apply to a private house owner buying panels with their own money? No. It mainly applies to Government-subsidized projects and large government schemes (like PM Surya Ghar).
The “Hardware” Trap: Don’t confuse this with “cells.” Cells are already being mandated; this new rule goes one step deeper into “Wafers and Ingots.”
UPSC Value Box
| Key Term | Simple Meaning |
|---|---|
| ALMM | A government list of “approved” solar makers. It ensures only high-quality, Indian-made equipment is used in public projects. |
| Solar PLI Scheme | A government fund (₹24,000 crore) that gives rewards to companies for setting up factories to make solar parts in India. |
Q. With reference to the solar energy sector in India, consider the following statements:
The “Approved List of Models and Manufacturers” (ALMM) is a mandatory requirement for all private solar installations in India.
Solar “Ingots” and “Wafers” are the basic components used to manufacture solar cells.
The Indian government has mandated the use of domestically made wafers for government-backed projects starting from 2028.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Correct Answer: (b)
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