--- title: Solar Standards in India: BIS, CEIG | Arrays Ingenieria description: Quality and safety norms for solar plants in India in 2026: the BIS Quality Control Order, key IS/IEC standards for each part and CEIG approval. url: https://arraysingenieria.com/solar-quality-standards-bis-cea/ last_updated: 2026-10-11 source: Arrays Ingenieria (Arrays Ingenieria Pvt. Ltd.) --- Guide · Standards & Safety # Solar Quality and Safety Norms in India (2026): BIS, the Quality Control Order, CEA and CEIG What makes a solar plant compliant in 2026: the BIS Quality Control Order for modules, inverters and batteries, the standards each component should meet, the Electrical Inspector's approval, and site safety. On this page - Three layers of compliance - The BIS Quality Control Order - The standards each component should meet - CEA safety regulations and CEIG approval - Safety on site - Frequently asked questions - Sources By the [Arrays Ingenieria engineering team](https://arraysingenieria.com/about/) · Updated 11 Oct 2026 · 3 min read **Key takeaways** - The revised **Solar Systems, Devices and Components Goods Order, 2025** (notified 27 January 2025) requires BIS certification for modules, solar inverters and storage batteries - Large inverters (above 200 kW) were given extra time to certify, reportedly to the end of 2026 - Modules must also meet ALMM where it applies (see our ALMM guide) - Plants above the voltage and capacity thresholds need the **Electrical Inspector's (CEIG) approval** before energisation under the CEA safety regulations - Earthing, lightning protection, surge protection and documented commissioning tests are what keep a plant safe for 25 years ## Three layers of compliance - **Product certification:** each component meets its Indian Standard and carries the BIS mark (and, for modules, ALMM where applicable). - **Design and installation:** the plant is designed and built to the electrical safety regulations and good practice. - **Inspection and approval:** the DISCOM and, where required, the Electrical Inspector approve the plant before it is energised. ## The BIS Quality Control Order MNRE notified the revised **Solar Systems, Devices and Components Goods (Requirement for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2025** in the Gazette on **27 January 2025**, effective after a 180-day transition. It covers **solar PV modules, inverters for solar PV applications and storage batteries**. These must conform to the notified Indian Standards and carry the BIS Standard Mark under a BIS licence; products made only for export are exempt. Inverters above 200 kW were allowed extra time. MNRE extended the self-certification window for them, reportedly to **31 December 2026**, during which makers need valid IEC certificates matching the Indian Standards. ## The standards each component should meet Common standards for solar plant components | Component | Standards to ask for | What they cover | | --- | --- | --- | | Crystalline PV modules | IS 14286 / IEC 61215; IS/IEC 61730 | Design qualification and type approval; safety | | Grid-tied inverters | IS 16221 (Parts 1 and 2) / IEC 62109; IS 16169 | Safety of power converters; islanding-prevention test | | DC cables | IS 17293 / EN 50618 type solar cables | UV-resistant, double-insulated cables for PV | | AC power cables | IS 7098 (XLPE) | Armoured LT cables to the distribution board | | Earthing | IS 3043 | Code of practice for earthing | | Lightning protection | IS/IEC 62305 | Lightning protection of structures | | Commissioning and documentation | IEC 62446-1 | System documentation, commissioning tests and inspection | | Storage batteries | Notified IS for the battery type | Covered by the 2025 Quality Control Order | **Standards are revised** BIS revises standards and adds parts over time, and sources differ on which part covers what. Ask the supplier for the BIS licence and test reports for the exact model supplied, and keep them in the project file. ## CEA safety regulations and CEIG approval The Central Electricity Authority's **safety and electric supply regulations** set the rules for electrical installations, including clearances, earthing, protection and inspection. Installations above the specified voltage, and in many states above a set capacity, must be inspected and approved by the **Electrical Inspector** (the Chief Electrical Inspector to Government, CEIG, in many states) before they are energised. - **Drawing approval**Submit single-line diagram, layout and equipment details for approval where the state requires it. - **Build to the approved design**Install with the specified protection, earthing and clearances. - **Test**Insulation resistance, earth resistance, protection settings and relay tests, recorded on the prescribed formats. - **Inspection**The Electrical Inspector inspects the installation and the test records. - **Approval to energise**With approval, the DISCOM completes metering and synchronisation. **Our practice** We handle CEIG approvals and liaison as part of our scope on many projects, from rooftop plants on industrial sheds to ground-mount plants, and keep the test records the inspector expects. ## Safety on site - Permit-to-work and electrical isolation (lock-out, tag-out) before any work on live DC or AC circuits - Work-at-height controls on roofs: lifelines, harnesses, edge protection and skylight safety mesh - PPE suited to the task: helmets, insulated gloves, safety shoes, eye protection - Daily toolbox talks and supervision by trained engineers - A safety management system certified to ISO 45001 Earthing and electrical safety works on a solar plant: a 25-year plant is only as safe as its earthing and protection. Need a plant that passes inspection first time? Our veteran-led crews build to the standards and document every test. [Get a free solar quote](https://arraysingenieria.com/free-solar-quote/) ## Frequently asked questions Do solar inverters need BIS certification? Yes. Under the 2025 Quality Control Order, inverters for solar PV applications must carry the BIS Standard Mark. Inverters above 200 kW were given extra time, reportedly to the end of 2026. Which standards should solar modules meet? IS 14286 / IEC 61215 for design qualification and IS/IEC 61730 for safety, and ALMM listing where the project falls under the ALMM order. What is CEIG approval for solar? Approval by the Electrical Inspector that the installation meets the CEA safety regulations, required before energising plants above the specified voltage or, in many states, above a set capacity. What tests should be done at commissioning? Insulation resistance, polarity, string open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current, earth resistance, protection settings and functional checks, documented to IEC 62446-1. ## Sources - [PIB: MNRE notifies the revised Quality Control Order for solar photovoltaic products](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2097219) - [Saur Energy: MNRE extends self-certification for solar inverters above 200 kW](https://www.saurenergy.com/solar-energy-news/mnre-extends-self-certification-for-200-kw-with-solar-inverters-till-dec-31-2026-12151390) - [PIB: MNRE amends the ALMM Order 2019 (List-II for solar cells)](https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2082901) This guide explains public policy in plain language for planning purposes. Rules, rates and deadlines change: confirm the current position with the notifying authority, your DISCOM and your tax adviser before you commit. Last checked 11 Oct 2026. **About the authors.** Arrays Ingenieria is an ex-servicemen-led solar EPC and installation & commissioning company working Pan-India, from Assam's tea estates to industrial rooftops. [Our story](https://arraysingenieria.com/ex-servicemen-led-msme/) · [Our projects](https://arraysingenieria.com/projects/) [Quality & Safety](https://arraysingenieria.com/quality-safety/)[Installation & Commissioning](https://arraysingenieria.com/solar-installation-commissioning/) From Our Sites ## Case Studies on This Topic Real plants our veteran-led crews have built, with the scope of work in detail. [Industrial · Rooftop I&C: **Balaji Action Buildwell, Sitarganj: Solar I&C, BOS and Civil Works**4000.32 kWp project (as described in the BOS order) · Sitarganj, UttarakhandRead the case study](https://arraysingenieria.com/project-balaji-action-sitarganj-4mwp-solar/)[Industrial · Rooftop I&C: **Apar Industries, Jharsuguda: 1.2 MWp Rooftop Solar I&C**1.2 MWp (1203 kWp) · Jharsuguda, OdishaRead the case study](https://arraysingenieria.com/project-apar-industries-jharsuguda-1-2mwp-rooftop-solar/)[Industrial · Civil Works: **DCM Textile, Hisar: Civil Works, Piling and I&C for Solar**9979 kWp (10 MW) · Hisar, HaryanaRead the case study](https://arraysingenieria.com/project-dcm-hisar-10mw-solar-civil-works/) Keep Reading ## Related Guides [Policy: **ALMM List-I and List-II Explained: The Made-in-India Rule for Solar Modules and Cells**MNRE's Approved List of Models and Manufacturers now covers solar cells as well as modules. What List-I and List-II mean, which projects they bind, the exemptions, and how to stay compliant.3 min read · Updated 11 Oct 2026](https://arraysingenieria.com/almm-list-ii-solar-cells/)[Buyer's Guide: **How to Choose a Solar EPC and Installation Partner in India: 12 Questions to Ask**The partner you choose decides how your plant performs for 25 years. Twelve questions to ask any solar EPC or installation contractor, what good answers look like, and the red flags to walk away from.3 min read · Updated 11 Oct 2026](https://arraysingenieria.com/choose-solar-epc-partner/)[Installation & Commissioning: **Solar Plant Installation and Commissioning: The Complete Step-by-Step Checklist**What actually happens between the purchase order and the day a solar plant goes live. Every stage of installation and commissioning, the tests that prove the plant is safe, and the documents you should receive at handover.3 min read · Updated 11 Oct 2026](https://arraysingenieria.com/solar-plant-commissioning-checklist/) [All solar guides](https://arraysingenieria.com/insights/)[Government solar schemes](https://arraysingenieria.com/solar-schemes-india/)