International Solar Alliance
In one line: The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is a treaty-based body, launched by India and France, that promotes solar energy deployment, especially in developing countries.
Origins and design
The ISA was launched at COP21 in Paris in 2015, the same summit that adopted the Paris Agreement. Its headquarters is in Gurugram, India. It was first aimed at countries lying fully or partly between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, and its membership was later opened to all UN member states. The related idea of One Sun One World One Grid aims to connect solar power across regions.
Why it matters
The ISA lets India show climate leadership through cooperation on finance, standards and projects rather than binding emission cuts, in line with its equity-based stance.
Why it is in the news
The Prime Minister listed the ISA, One Sun One World One Grid, CDRI, the Global Biofuel Alliance, the International Big Cat Alliance and Mission LiFE as India's global green initiatives.
Where to go next
- Common but differentiated responsibilities
- Nationally Determined Contributions
International Solar Alliance in the news
- Op-ed: As India hosts the Agrivoltaics World Conference, farms can grow crops and power 21 October 2026
The platform for sharing the model abroad
- At NGT's climate conference, Modi says developing nations are wrongly blamed for emissions 20 September 2026
India's flagship coalition for solar energy.
Previous-year questions on this
- 2025 · GS3 · 10 marks How can India achieve energy independence through clean technology by 2047? How can biotechnology play a crucial role in this endeavour?
- 2022 · GS3 · 15 marks Do you think India will meet 50 percent of its energy needs from renewable energy by 2030? Justify your answer. How will the shift of subsidies from fossil fuels to renewables help achieve the above…
- 2022 · GS2 · 15 marks 'Clean energy is the order of the day.' Describe briefly India's changing policy towards climate change in various international fora in the context of geopolitics.
- 2018 · GS2 · 15 marks How far do you agree with the view that tribunals curtail the jurisdiction of ordinary courts? In view of the above, discuss the constitutional validity and competency of the tribunals in India.
- 2016 · Prelims Consider the following statements: 1. The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015. 2. The Alliance includes all the member countries of the…