MNRE Drafts Rules To Streamline BIS Approval for Solar Inverters

India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has released draft guidelines for the series approval of solar photovoltaic (SPV) inverters—including off-grid, grid-tied, and hybrid types—under the proposed “Solar Systems, Devices, and Components Goods Order, 2025.” MNRE has sought comments on the draft at kamlesh.yadav@nise.res.in, with a copy to rajkumarb.mnre@gov.in, within 15 days from the date of this notification.

The draft is aimed at helping manufacturers and test laboratories develop product families—defined by common hardware and firmware—for certification. The guidelines provide procedures for testing and registering inverters with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), while allowing for certain design and material changes within defined product families.

Under the draft:

• A product family must share identical hardware and essential firmware, though firmware settings may vary with model ratings.

• Inverters with different hardware or firmware functions must undergo separate testing.

• Families may include models with different power or current ratings, as long as the unit with the highest-rated components—such as EMC filters, capacitors, transformers, inductors, or IGBT/MOSFETs—is tested.

• All models must share specifications including input/output voltage, frequency, output phases, PCB layout, power stage topology, insulation class, control algorithm, and cabinet design.

• If cabinet designs differ, each must undergo ingress protection testing at NABL-accredited labs or through ISO/IEC 17025/ILAC-certified reports.

• The highest-rated inverter in the family will serve as the representative unit for safety testing.

The move is expected to simplify the BIS approval process while ensuring safety and compliance with Indian standards.

MNRE Tightens Quality Control for Solar Equipment

The latest draft complements MNRE’s earlier push to standardize and regulate solar products. Last year, the ministry issued the Solar Thermal Systems, Devices and Components (Quality Control) Order, 2024, mandating standards for solar water heaters. The order, published on October 8, 2025, will take effect 180 days after its release.

India thus joined a select group of countries with mandatory quality standards for solar water heaters. Under the new regime, the Bureau of Indian Standards will serve as the certification and enforcement authority. BIS, in consultation with MNRE, will also conduct market surveillance to ensure that products bearing the ‘Standard Mark’ comply with the notified Indian Standards.

MNRE Sets Efficiency Benchmarks for Solar Products

Through the proposed “Solar Systems, Devices, and Components Goods Order, 2025,” MNRE has also introduced minimum efficiency criteria for a broad range of solar technologies. The order will be effective 180 days from its publication. It requires designated products to conform to relevant Indian Standards and carry the Standard Mark under a BIS license, in line with Scheme-II of the Bureau of Indian Standards (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018.

The initiative is part of a broader strategy to build a robust solar manufacturing ecosystem focused on quality, reliability, and consumer protection.