The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, (MNRE), on December 19, 2025, issued Revised Guidelines for Series Approval of Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) Modules for conducting testing in test laboratories for compulsory BIS registration under the Solar Systems, Devices and Components Goods Order, 2025 (Quality Control Order, 2025). These guidelines aim to facilitate manufacturers and laboratories in defining product families and series approvals, including cases involving changes in design, materials, or components, while ensuring conformity with prescribed Indian Standards.
The revised framework clarifies the definition of a product family, testing methodology across lower, median, and higher power classes, conditions for extension of approval to additional power bins, and circumstances where retesting is required due to changes in Bill of Materials (BOM) or process modifications. It also specifies minimum efficiency criteria, marking and labelling requirements, and detailed documentation obligations. SPV modules in the range of 0.2–20W used in solar luminaries have been temporarily excluded from these series guidelines pending revision of the Quality Control Order, with specific testing standards applicable for lower wattage modules used in solar lanterns.
The notification further mandates strict adherence by test laboratories to applicable Indian Standards (IS) and IEC standards, outlines permissible testing sequences, and prescribes retesting norms to maintain certification validity. These revised guidelines supersede the earlier guidelines dated August 13, 2025, and shall be implemented subject to transition periods as notified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
[File No. 313-12/5/2025-S AND QC]
