What this document is
On 27 January 2025 MNRE issued the Solar Systems, Devices and Components Goods Order, 2025 (S.O. 492(E)). It replaces the 2017 solar CRS order and took effect on 27 July 2025. For utility-interconnected (grid-tied) PV inverters it brings in the revised anti-islanding standard and a new MPPT efficiency standard.
On 26 March 2025 the BIS Registration Department issued this guideline (reference Reg/Utility-Interconnected Photovoltaic Inverters). The PDF is 10 pages, most of which is a copy of the gazette order.
Solar goods come under MNRE’s order, not MeitY’s. MeitY’s CRS FAQs and its series guidelines do not apply. Inverters are grouped under MNRE’s own series guidelines of 26 August 2019.
What changed
- IS 16169:2014 / IEC 62116:2008 is replaced by IS 16169:2019 / IEC 62116:2014 (test procedure for islanding prevention).
- In Table 5 the input voltage test conditions change from above 90% and below 10% to above 75% and below 20%. Trip settings are no longer the maker’s own. They follow national rules, which the guideline names as the Central Electricity Authority’s regulations on connectivity of distributed generation resources.
- IS 17980:2022 / IEC 62891:2020 is added. It measures the MPPT efficiency of grid-connected inverters.
- IS 16221 (Part 2):2015 for safety stays.
Key dates
- 27 July 2025: the date the order took effect. Applications and inclusions without IS 16169:2019 and IS 17980:2022 reports were processed only until this date, against a declaration to comply later.
- After 27 July 2025: no new licence without compliance with the new order.
- Existing licensees implement within the timeline in the order, which keeps existing licences valid and brings renewals after expiry under the new order.
Existing licensees
- Apply through the Standard Revision/Amendment/Essential Requirement module with reports to clause 6 of IS 16169:2019 for each lead model.
- Add an IS 17980:2022 report for each lead model. Declare the efficiency of every model. BIS checks it against the test report.
- Pay the extension-of-scope fee for IS 17980 (see the FAQs below).
- New models go through the Inclusion module, also with IS 17980 reports.
- BIS issues a letter listing the compliant models. Models still on IS 16169:2014, or without an IS 17980 report, are deleted after the deadline. A licence with no compliant models is liable to expire.
New applicants and changes in scope
New applications and inclusions need reports to IS 16221 (Part 2):2015, IS 16169:2019 and IS 17980:2022, with a declared efficiency for every model. Existing licensees must not use the Inclusion module to update registered models.
Status
The cut-off has passed and the new standards apply to all grid-tied solar inverters. Power inverters for use in PV power systems are a separate item in the order, with their own guideline for IS/IEC 61683.