India Orders Cancellation of 3-4 GW Solar Tenders Rushed to Evade Import Rules

India's renewable energy ministry has ordered clean energy agencies to cancel and reissue solar project tenders that were rushed to circumvent a new import restriction requiring government projects to use only domestically made solar modules and cells starting June 2026. The government found that nearly 3-4 gigawatts of solar projects misused an exemption that allowed use of imported cells for bids submitted by August 31, with some agencies giving just seven days to submit bids to lock in cheaper China-made solar cells. The agencies have been instructed to report on actions taken within 15 days. This move aims to enforce the policy promoting local solar cell manufacturing, as India expects to be largely self-sufficient in solar cells by March 2027, although initial production may be limited. The ministry did not name the involved agencies or disclose the exact power capacity affected. Industry sources and research notes highlight that this enforcement addresses misuse of the exemption and supports domestic solar manufacturing growth in the country.