India Cancels Rushed Solar Tenders to Enforce Domestic Manufacturing Rules

India’s Ministry of Renewable Energy has directed clean energy agencies to cancel and issue a number of rushed solar tenders, citing nonsupervisory bypass and an critical need to strengthen domestic manufacturing in the sector.

According to a directive issued on 3 October 2025, certain agencies had given stab as little as seven days to submit proffers for government-backed solar systems. Citing the short window, officers stated that this approach may have been used to circumvent a rule, effective since 1 June, taking all government solar systems to use only locally made modules and cells.

Numerous Indian companies have preliminarily reckoned on cheaper imported solar cells, generally from China, to fulfil their commitments under a policy aimed at expanding renewable energy capacities. Still, India’s clean energy frame now authorizations domestic content for these modules as part of a broader strategy to foster original assiduity, reduce import dependence, and position India as a global solar manufacturing mecca. The ministry’s review set up that some tenders were being expedited, potentially compromising the enforcement of this demand.

Renewable energy agencies serve as crucial interposers, issuing tenders for solar systems and easing the trade of attendant electricity to state power serviceability. By averring on domestic content, the government aims to insure that the rapid-fire development of new solar capacity also translates into growth and tone-adequacy for Indian manufacturers. Agencies involved in issuing the fast-tracked tenders have been given 15 days to report the corrective conduct taken.

Assiduity judges note that India is on track to achieve significant tone-adequacy in solar cell product by March 2027, though original affair faults may be anticipated as new installations scale operations. The ministry’s move underlines its commitment to administering policy guidelines and setting a strong foundation for the long-term health of India’s renewable energy ecosystem.