India’s solar manufacturing expansion remained heavily focused on modules during the first half of 2026, with additions outpacing new cell capacity by more than five times. The country added 50.6 GW of solar module manufacturing capacity between January and June, compared with 9.7 GW of solar cell capacity, according to Mercom India.

By the end of June, cumulative solar module manufacturing capacity had reached 261.7 GW, while solar cell manufacturing capacity stood at 36.6 GW. The widening difference between the two stages of the manufacturing chain has increased the industry’s reliance on imported cells to meet domestic requirements.

Imports of solar cells and modules rose 18 per cent in H1 2026 compared with a year earlier. Solar cells accounted for 81 per cent of total imports, while modules made up the remaining 19 per cent, the State of Solar PV Manufacturing in India 1H 2026 report said.

Manufacturing capacity remained concentrated geographically, with Gujarat accounting for nearly 45 per cent of India’s module capacity and more than 36 per cent of its solar cell capacity. Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu ranked second and third in module capacity, respectively, and together represented nearly 19 per cent of the national total.

The report also recorded a decline in module prices. The average selling price (ASP) of Indian mono PERC modules fell 1.8 per cent quarter-on-quarter, while the top 10 manufacturers accounted for about 60 per cent of the country’s total module manufacturing capacity. The figures highlight a sector expanding quickly in downstream production while cell manufacturing continues to lag.