India added 50.6 GW of solar module manufacturing capacity and 9.7 GW of solar cell capacity during the first half of 2026, according to Mercom India. The expansion took cumulative module manufacturing capacity to 261.7 GW as of June, while cumulative solar cell capacity reached 36.6 GW.

However, cell availability remained a constraint for manufacturers and project developers. Module manufacturing capacity expanded faster than domestic cell production, tightening the supply of compliant modules and affecting project activity. Capacity listed under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) stood at 225.5 GW for modules and nearly 35.5 GW for cells.

Imports of solar cells and modules rose 18 per cent in the first half of 2026 compared with the corresponding period of 2025. Cells accounted for 81 per cent of total imports, while modules made up the remaining 19 per cent, highlighting the continuing dependence on overseas supply amid the domestic cell shortfall.

Gujarat remained India’s largest solar module manufacturing hub, accounting for nearly 45 per cent of national capacity as of June. Rajasthan followed with 26.1 GW of module capacity, while Tamil Nadu had 23.4 GW. Gujarat also held the largest share of annual solar cell production capacity at 37 per cent, followed by Tamil Nadu and Telangana with 4.3 GW and 4.2 GW, respectively.

The sector remained concentrated among major manufacturers, with the top 10 companies accounting for 60 per cent of total module capacity. Among technologies listed under ALMM, Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (TOPCon) accounted for 80 per cent of module capacity, followed by monocrystalline PERC/TOPCon at 11 per cent, Mono PERC at 4 per cent, heterojunction at 3 per cent and thin film at 2 per cent. The US was India’s largest solar export destination, receiving 92 per cent of shipments during the period.