India co-founded a global body headquartered on its own soil, alongside France. It’s one of the few international organisations with its headquarters in India.
🕰️ Timeline
30 November 2015 — ISA Is Launched
- Launch India and France launch ISA at COP21, in Paris. Prime Minister Modi and President Hollande jointly unveil it.
Later Amendment — Opening to All UN States
- Amendment ISA later amends its framework agreement, opening membership to all UN member states, beyond the original intertropical-country scope.
✊ Must Know
Where and When ISA Launched
- Launch The International Solar Alliance was launched at COP21 in Paris, on 30 November 2015. India and France launched it jointly.
- Purpose ISA promotes solar-energy deployment, to reduce fossil-fuel dependence and support sustainable development.
Original Membership Scope
- At launch ISA’s membership was initially limited to countries between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. It was NOT open to all UN member states at launch.
💡 Good to Know
Headquarters
- HQ ISA is headquartered in India, at Gurugram. It is one of very few international organisations with its headquarters on Indian soil.
Growth and Opening Up
- Growth ISA grew to around 120 countries supporting its founding declaration in its first years.
- Opened up A later framework amendment removed the tropical-belt restriction, opening ISA to all UN member states.
Test Yourself
🌟 Great to Know
A Timing Trap
- Trap Whether ISA is “open to all UN member states” depends on the year being asked about. At launch, it wasn’t. After the later amendment, it is.
- Wider Context For the other global energy fora India takes part in, see IntlRel0017 — Global Energy Fora.
📝 Previous Year Questions
UPSC CSP 2016 — ISA’s Launch and Original Membership Scope
- UPSC 2016 The correct answer is 1 only. The International Solar Alliance was launched by India and France at COP21 in Paris, in November 2015. At launch, membership was limited to intertropical countries. It wasn’t open to all UN member states at the time. That came later, through a framework amendment. See UPSC CSP 2016 GS Paper I, Q81.
Beyond the answer
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📚 Keep reading
IndEco0121 — Solar Energy in IndiaIndEco0210 — Renewable Energy in IndiaUPSC CSP 2016 — General Studies Paper I (Full Question Paper)IndEco0191 — National Solar MissionUPSC CSP 2025 — General Studies Paper I (Full Question Paper)❓ Practice this topic
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