Non-Compliant Solar Bids With Short Timelines To Be Scrapped, Warns MNRE

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued a notification warning tendering agencies against providing very short bid submission timelines for renewable projects in the country. This comes after several solar tenders were recently issued with unusually short submission periods.

In its latest notification, MNRE observed that a few government agencies in the renewable sector, in August 2025, issued bids with very limited windows for submission—some as short as seven days for procurement. MNRE noted that this appeared to be an attempt to circumvent the ALMM mandate for solar cells issued by the ministry.

“As you are aware, all Renewable Energy Implementing Agencies (REIAs)/PSUs/other agencies are required to strictly adhere to the rules and regulations issued by the Ministry of Finance and the Central Vigilance Commission, from time to time, in matters related to public procurement for maintaining financial propriety and transparency,” the order stated.

The ministry also directed all agencies to strictly comply with the existing rules and regulations when issuing procurement bids. “Any existing bids with short bidding timelines that have been issued without complying with GFR rules and CVC regulations may be scrapped, if required, and new bids may be issued in full compliance,” MNRE said.

It further asked agencies to respond to the ministry on the action taken in this regard. The letter hinted at diversion of norms by certain tendering agencies to allow solar companies to procure modules while avoiding the implications of the proposed ALMM mandate for solar cells.

Through this order, the ministry reminded tendering agencies and REIAs to comply with laid-out principles to ensure that no undue benefits are extended to bidders in light of any new or upcoming policy, such as the introduction of the ALMM mandate for solar cells.