1. The MNRE pursuant to its office memorandums dated February 5, 2026 and February 13, 2026, issued the 4th and 5th revisions to the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers ("ALMM") ListII for solar cells, respectively, whereby certain approved entities were included in ALMM List-II.
2. On March 17, 2026, MNRE issued an amendment to the ALMM order for implementation of ALMM List-III for solar PV wafers ("ALMM Amendment"), which would become effective from June 1, 2028. Relevantly, the ALMM Amendment provides that this ALMM List-III will not be issued unless there are at least 3 wafer manufacturers operating independently, without common ownership or control, whether directly or indirectly, with an aggregate manufacturing capacity of at least 15 GW per annum.
   Further, from June 1, 2028, (i) the projects falling under ALMM would be required to source solar PV modules, cells and wafers from manufacturers enlisted under ALMM List-I (solar modules), List-II (solar cells) and List-III (solar wafers), respectively, and projects that are exempted from using ALMM enlisted solar cells would automatically get exemption from using ALMM enlisted wafers. Additionally, the ALMM Amendment sets out a cut-off date mechanism, whereby projects with bids submitted or power purchase agreements ("PPAs") executed prior to the cut-off date (being 7 days from issuance of the initial ALMM list for wafers) would be exempt from wafer sourcing requirements under ALMM List-III. Relevantly, the ALMM Amendment provides for differential treatment of behind-the-meter, open access and government projects, including phased compliance requirements depending on commissioning timelines.
3. On March 28, 2026, MNRE issued an office memorandum for extension of timelines beyond March 31, 2026 for financial closure and completion of projects under the PM-KUSUM scheme, in light of constraints faced in securing financing within the existing timelines. The extension applies to projects for which PPAs have been executed or notices to proceed have been issued on or before December 31, 2025.

4. On February 16, 2026, MNRE issued an office memorandum amending the procedure for inclusion/updating wind turbine models in the ALMM of wind turbines issued earlier on July 31, 2025 ("Procedure"). The amendment has been introduced in view of supply chain constraints relating to special bearings (main bearings, yaw bearings and pitch bearings) used in wind turbines. Further, for wind power projects to be commissioned within 18 months from July 31, 2025 under captive/ open access/ commercial & industrial/ third party sale arrangements, additional exemptions have been provided.

5. The Central Electricity Authority ("CEA"), Ministry of Power, Government of India ("MoP"), on January 23, 2026 released a report titled 'Roadmap to 100 GW of Hydro Pumped Storage Projects ("PSPs") by 2035–36' ("PSP Roadmap"), outlining a strategic framework for scaling up longduration energy storage to provide peak power supply, balancing variable renewable energy, enhancing grid reliability and supporting India's clean energy transition and long-term decarbonisation goals. The PSP Roadmap envisages the commissioning of approximately 100 GW of pumped storage capacity by 2035-36, with an average capacity addition of around 9 GW per year over the coming decade. Further, it identifies a total pumped storage potential of approximately 267 GW in India.
6. The Union Cabinet pursuant to a press release dated March 18, 2026, has approved the small hydro power ("SHP") development scheme for the period FY5 2026-27 to FY 2030-31, with a total outlay of INR 2,584.60 crore to support installation of approximately 1,500 MW of small hydro capacity across India. The scheme targets development of SHP projects (between 1-25 MW capacity), with a particular focus on hilly and north-eastern regions, and provides central financial assistance of up to INR 3.6 crore per MW or 30% of project cost (capped at INR 30 crore per project) for northeastern States and border districts, and INR 2.4 crore per MW or 20% of project cost (capped at INR 20 crore per project) for other States.

1. On January 12, 2026, MNRE directed renewable energy implementing agencies ("REIAs")6 to grant time-extension in the scheduled commissioning date ("SCD")/ scheduled commencement of supply date of renewable energy power projects where delays occurred in obtaining approval under Section 68 of the Electricity Act, 2003 for overhead laying of power transmission lines due to the pendency of proceedings before the Supreme Court in the Great Indian Bustard ("GIB") matter.
   MNRE has directed that such delay in grant of Section 68 approvals be treated akin to force majeure, and that REIAs may grant extension of time for the period from the date of application for approval under Section 68 (or March 21, 2024, whichever is later) until December 19, 2025, being the date of the Supreme Court's final judgment in the said matter. The relief applies subject to the concerned developer submitting an undertaking confirming compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court and the expert committee constituted in relation to the GIB matter. The developers who receive such extensions may pass on the benefit of the extension to downstream stakeholders such as EPC contractors, equipment suppliers and original equipment manufacturers. Developers seeking such relief are required to submit a formal application with supporting documentary evidence to the concerned REIA, which would examine the claim and grant appropriate extension based on the facts of the case.
2. On January 20, 2026, MoP issued the draft National Electricity Policy, 2026 ("Draft NEP") for stakeholder comments till March 19, 20268. The draft policy has been prepared pursuant to Section 3 of the Electricity Act, 2003, which mandates the Central Government to formulate and periodically revise the national electricity policy in consultation with the CEA and State Governments. The Draft NEP sets out a strategic roadmap for the development of India's power sector in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047, with the objective of ensuring reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity supply while strengthening the financial viability of the sector.
3. On February 27, 2026, Central Electricity Regulatory Commission ("CERC") issued the CERC (Terms and Conditions for Purchase and Sale of Carbon Credit Certificates) Regulations, 2026 ("CCC Regulations"), establishing a framework for trading of carbon credit certificates ("CCCs") in India in line with the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, 2023 ("CCTS").

Some of the key features of the CCC Regulations are:

• the Bureau of Energy Efficiency ("BEE") has been designated as the administrator, responsible for developing procedures, monitoring transactions and facilitating market functioning under the CCC Regulations;
• the Grid Controller of India Limited has been designated as the registry, responsible for maintaining accounts, recording issuance and transfer of CCCs, and ensuring reconciliation of trades;
• the CCC Regulations provide for two distinct market segments, namely: (i) compliance market for obligated entities; and (ii) offset market for non-obligated entities;
• the price of CCCs would be discovered through market-based mechanisms on power exchanges, subject to floor and forbearance prices to be specified by CERC; and
• each CCC represents 1 tonne of CO₂ equivalent reduced, removed or avoided, and may be used for compliance or offset purposes.

4. On March 13, 2026, MoP issued the Electricity (Amendment) Rules, 2026 ("Electricity Amendment Rules"), amending Rule 3 of the Electricity Rules, 2005 relating to captive generating plants, with the objective of providing clarity on ownership structures, consumption requirements and verification mechanisms. These rules have come into effect from April 1, 2026 and mainly introduce the following:
   • the definition of 'captive user' has been expanded to include consumption through an energy storage system ("ESS"), holding companies, any other subsidiary or subsidiaries of such holding company, which are to be treated as a single captive user;
   • special purpose vehicles have been expressly recognised and are to be treated as an association of persons ("AoP");
   • in the case of AoPs, the Electricity Amendment Rules introduce a collective compliance framework, whereby overall consumption of 51% is assessed collectively, while each captive user is permitted to consume up to 100% of its proportionate shareholding;
   • where the ownership pattern varies during the FY, the proportionate consumption of each captive user is to be determined based on the weighted average shareholding during such period;
   • the obligation is on the captive user(s) to ensure that the prescribed ownership and consumption thresholds are met during the FY;
   • the Electricity Amendment Rules provide that verification of captive status would be undertaken by a State-designated nodal agency for intra-state projects and by the National Load Despatch Centre for inter-state projects; and
   • in case verification of a captive generating station is pending, cross-subsidy surcharge and additional surcharge would not be levied, subject to submission of a declaration, with liability (along with carrying cost) arising if captive status is not met.


5. On March 24, 2026, CERC issued the CERC (Terms and Conditions for Renewable Energy Certificates for Renewable Energy Generation) (First Amendment) Regulations, 2026 ("REC Amendment Regulations"). The REC Amendment Regulations introduce new definitions of 'designated consumer', 'renewable consumption obligation' ("RCO") and 'virtual power purchase agreement' ("VPPA"), aligning the REC framework with the Energy Conservation Act, 2001 and CERC (Power Market) Regulations, 2021. Further, it expands the scope of eligible captive generating stations for issuance of certificates to include renewable energy generating plants not meeting captive criteria but having self-consumption.
   The REC Amendment Regulations (i) revises the certificate multiplier framework, providing differentiated multipliers based on renewable energy technology, including higher multipliers for technologies such as biomass, hydro, offshore wind and energy storage, and prescribes that the certificate multiplier once assigned would remain valid for a period of 15 years from commissioning of the generating station.
6. The CEA, by notification dated March 27, 2026, has issued the CEA (Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply) Amendment Regulations, 2026, effective from April 1, 2026. The amendment introduces a comprehensive regulatory framework for battery energy storage systems.
7. The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission ("RERC") pursuant to an order dated January 27, 2026 approved the 'Procedure for Grant of Connectivity to the Intra-State Transmission System' ("RERC Procedure") pursuant to Regulation 17 of the Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (Rajasthan Electricity Grid Code) Regulations, 2024.

Some of the key features of the RERC Procedure are:

• the RERC Procedure would come into effect from February 1, 2026;
• it would be applicable to applications for grant of connectivity to the intra-state transmission system at voltage levels of 33 kV and above;
• it would apply to generating stations, licensees, and open access consumers (not being consumers of distribution licensees) seeking new or modified connections to the state transmission system;
• the State Transmission Utility, Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited ("RVPN") has been designated as the nodal agency responsible for processing applications and granting connectivity; and
• RERC has clarified that grid connectivity charges for renewable energy projects would be governed by the RERC (Terms and Conditions for Tariff Determination from Renewable Energy Sources) Regulations, 2020 and the Rajasthan Integrated Clean Energy Policy, 2024, as amended from time to time.

4. Environmental Initiatives