Key Terms & Concepts — UPSC Mains
International Solar Alliance
"A treaty-based intergovernmental organisation launched by India and France at COP21 (2015) to mobilise over USD 1 trillion in solar energy investment for tropical solar-rich developing countries by 2030."
The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is a treaty-based intergovernmental organisation co-founded by India and France, announced jointly by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President François Hollande on November 30, 2015, on the sidelines of COP21 in Paris. The ISA Framework Agreement was opened for signature on November 15, 2016, in Marrakech (COP22), and entered into force on December 6, 2017. ISA's headquarters is at the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) campus in Gurugram (formerly Gurgaon), Haryana, India. It is the first international intergovernmental organisation to be headquartered in India. Original mandate: ISA was initially conceived as a coalition of solar-resource-rich countries lying fully or partially between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn (the 'sunshine belt'). However, in 2020 the ISA amended its Framework Agreement to open membership to all UN member states, moving beyond the tropics-only definition. Membership (as of 2025): 120+ member and signatory countries. However, on January 7, 2026, the United States officially withdrew from ISA as part of a broader Trump administration exit from 66 international organisations. India, France, and the UK remain key members. India was elected ISA President and France Co-President for 2024–2026 at the 8th ISA Assembly (October 2025). 8th ISA Assembly (October 27–30, 2025): Hosted by India at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, with delegates from 124 countries and over 40 energy and climate ministers participating. ISA's core goals: (1) 1,000 GW of solar capacity globally by 2030; (2) Mobilise USD 1 trillion in solar investment by 2030; (3) Reduce cost of solar technology through aggregated demand; (4) Deploy standardised procurement frameworks (e.g., One Sun One World One Grid — OSOWOG). One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG): India's concept of a globally interconnected electricity grid powered by solar energy — enabling solar power to be transmitted across time zones (where the sun shines, power flows). Launched by PM Modi at COP26 (Glasgow, 2021), it is now an ISA initiative. ISA's World Solar Bank (formerly Solar Technology and Application Resource Centre — STAR-C): proposed development finance mechanism to fund solar projects in developing countries.
UPSC GS3 Environment (renewable energy, solar energy policy) and GS2 International Relations (India's multilateral leadership, climate diplomacy). Key facts: COP21 Paris (2015), India-France co-founding, HQ Gurugram (first intergovernmental org HQ in India), 1000 GW/USD 1 trillion target, OSOWOG. Connect to India's NDC solar target.
- 1 Co-founded by India & France; announced at COP21, Paris, November 30, 2015
- 2 HQ: National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), Gurugram, Haryana — first intergovernmental org HQ'd in India
- 3 Framework Agreement entered force December 6, 2017; 120+ members/signatories; US withdrew January 7, 2026
- 4 Originally tropics-only (Tropic of Cancer to Capricorn); opened to all UN members in 2020
- 5 Goals: 1,000 GW solar by 2030; USD 1 trillion investment mobilisation
- 6 OSOWOG (One Sun One World One Grid): globally interconnected solar grid concept; launched COP26 (2021)
- 7 World Solar Bank: proposed DFI for solar finance in developing countries
- 8 8th ISA Assembly: October 2025, Bharat Mandapam New Delhi; India elected President, France Co-President (2024–2026)
- 9 Connect to India's target: 500 GW non-fossil electricity capacity by 2030
India's leadership in ISA is a flagship example of its climate diplomacy — launching a multilateral institution, hosting it domestically, and linking it to India's own renewable energy ambitions. UPSC Mains often asks how India can leverage ISA to advance its 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' approach to climate action — the ISA-OSOWOG combination is the answer.
