- Why in news
- On 11 March 2026, ISA Foundation Day was marked in New Delhi. The Union Minister said ISA now has 125 Member and Signatory countries, and the ISA announced a Green Hydrogen and Storage Start-up Challenge 2026.
- What it is
- The International Solar Alliance is a treaty-based intergovernmental organisation to scale up solar energy, launched by India and France at COP21 in Paris in 2015. It focuses on sunshine-rich countries, especially in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Small Island Developing States. It provides technical guidance, policy support and a platform to mobilise finance.
- Launch
- India and France jointly launched ISA at COP21 in Paris in 2015.
- Legal status
- ISA is a treaty-based intergovernmental platform.
- Presidency
- India is the President of the ISA Assembly.
- Headquarters
- ISA is headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana, India.
- Strategic pillars
- Four pillars: Catalytic Finance Hub; Global Capability Centre and Digitisation; Regional and Country-level Engagement; Technology Roadmap and Policy.
Don’t confuse with ISA vs IRENA: ISA focuses on solar energy, is headquartered in Gurugram and is treaty-based. IRENA covers all renewables and is headquartered in Abu Dhabi.
International bodies and relations: the largest group of news questions in Prelims (61 since 2013), often about background, members and location. In Mains, 27 news-triggered questions, mostly on India's interests.
Why it matters
- ISA gives India a leadership role in climate diplomacy and South-South cooperation.
- It mobilises finance and technology for solar deployment in developing countries.
Problems
- Mobilising affordable finance at scale for low-income members is difficult.
- Dependence on imported solar equipment and supply chains concentrated in a few countries.
Way forward
- Expand financing tools such as the Global Solar Facility and risk guarantees.
- Strengthen capacity building and technology transfer to member countries.
Put in your answer
India's solar capacity: India's installed solar capacity is nearly 136 GW, almost half of its renewable capacity.
India's 2030 target: India aims for 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.
- 2021Mains GS3 · Q6Explain the Green Grid Initiative's purpose and when the idea was first floated in ISA.
- 2020Mains GS1 · Q16Elaborate on India's solar energy potential and its regional variations in development.
- 2020Mains GS3 · Q16Describe benefits of solar electricity over conventional generation and government initiatives for it.
- 2016Prelims Q81Was the International Solar Alliance launched at the 2015 UN climate conference, and does it include all UN members?
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Single answer
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
With reference to the International Solar Alliance (ISA), consider the following statements:
- 1.ISA was jointly launched by India and France at the COP21 climate conference in Paris in 2015.
- 2.ISA is an informal grouping with no treaty basis.
- 3.India currently holds the presidency of the ISA Assembly.
- 4.The headquarters of ISA is in Paris.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
True or false?
1 of 7
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.The International Solar Alliance was jointly launched by India and France at the COP21 climate conference in Paris in 2015.
True. India and France launched ISA at COP21, Paris, 2015.
2.The International Solar Alliance is an informal grouping without a treaty basis.
False. ISA is a treaty-based intergovernmental platform.
3.India currently holds the presidency of the ISA Assembly.
True. India is the President of the ISA Assembly.
4.The headquarters of the International Solar Alliance is in Paris.
False. ISA is headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana, India.
5.The ISA's strategic pillars include a Catalytic Finance Hub and a Technology Roadmap and Policy.
True. Both are among the four strategic pillars.
6.ISA places particular emphasis on supporting countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Small Island Developing States.
True. These regions are ISA's stated focus.
7.The ISA Foundation Day is observed on 11 March, marking the anniversary of the alliance's launch at COP21 in November 2015.
False. The Foundation Day is marked on 11 March; the alliance was launched at COP21 in 2015, but the 11 March date is not the COP21 launch date.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.