India Secures Third Consecutive Term as President of International Solar Alliance

India Secures Third Consecutive Term as President of International Solar Alliance

Introduction

• Third Consecutive Term: India has once again been elected as the President of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) for the third time in a row. Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi announced this on 3 November 2026 during the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026 in New Delhi.
• Global Support: ISA member countries have once again shown their trust in India by choosing it to lead the Alliance. This decision shows that India is playing an important role in spreading the use of solar energy and clean electricity across the world.
• France Re-elected: Along with India, France has also been re-elected as the Co-President of the International Solar Alliance. The announcement was made during the Ninth Session of the ISA Assembly, which was held in New Delhi from 2 to 5 November 2026.

About International Solar Alliance (ISA)

• Establishment: The International Solar Alliance was jointly started by India and France in 2015 during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21), which was held in Paris, France.
• Main Purpose: The main aim of the ISA is to increase the use of solar energy in different parts of the world, especially in countries that receive plenty of sunlight. It works to make solar energy cheaper, easier to access and more reliable for people.
• Global Membership: The Alliance has grown into a large international organisation with 130 signatory and member countries. It gives these countries a common platform to work together and develop solar energy projects.
• Headquarters: The headquarters of the International Solar Alliance is located in Gurugram, Haryana, India.
• Global Vision: The ISA wants to make solar energy available to everyone and reduce the world’s dependence on traditional energy sources such as coal, oil and natural gas.

Importance of India’s Re-election

• Global Leadership: India’s re-election for the third consecutive term shows that member countries trust its efforts to promote renewable energy and bring countries together to work on clean energy projects.
• Clean Energy Growth: India has been working to increase the use of solar power and other renewable energy sources. Its experience can help developing countries find affordable ways to produce clean electricity.
• Support for Developing Nations: Many developing countries face problems in arranging money, modern technology and trained workers for solar energy projects. Through the ISA, India can help these countries deal with such problems.
• Climate Protection: Solar energy produces electricity without directly releasing carbon dioxide while generating power. Therefore, increasing the use of solar energy can help reduce pollution and fight climate change.

Major Initiatives and Financial Support

• Africa Solar Facility: The ISA is working on a USD 200 million Africa Solar Facility to attract investment in solar energy projects and smaller renewable energy systems across African countries.
• India’s Contribution: India has promised around ₹225 crore (USD 25 million) to the Africa Solar Facility. This money will help provide affordable solar electricity to people and communities that have limited access to power.
• Nigeria Fund: The USD 300 million Nigeria Distributed Renewable Energy Fund is another important step. It aims to support renewable energy projects in Nigeria and create a model that other African countries can also follow.
• Solar for Islands: The Alliance is also working on solar power and electricity storage projects for small island countries. Mauritius has been selected as the first country to begin this work.

Solar Energy and Farmers

• Three Million Farmers: Pralhad Joshi highlighted that around 3 million farmers have benefited from solar energy projects and the use of solar power in agriculture.
• PM-KUSUM Scheme: India’s PM-KUSUM scheme encourages farmers to use solar energy for farming. Under this scheme, farmers can use solar-powered water pumps for irrigation. This helps them reduce their dependence on expensive electricity and diesel.
• Agri-PV Development: The government is also encouraging Agricultural Photovoltaics (Agri-PV). Under this system, farmers can grow crops and produce solar electricity on the same piece of land.
• International Expansion: Through the International Solar Alliance, India is trying to share its successful solar farming methods with other member countries, especially those in Africa.

Solar Technology and Skill Development

• Technology Centres: The ISA is supporting the setting up of 17 Solar Technology Application Resource Centres (STAR-C). These centres will spread knowledge about solar energy, provide technical training and help people learn the skills needed to work in this field.
• SHINE Centre: The Alliance is also developing a Global Capability Centre called SHINE (Strategic Hub for Innovation and Execution). This centre will encourage new ideas and help turn solar energy plans into actual projects.
• AI-enabled Academy: An AI-enabled ISA Academy is another important initiative. It will help people learn more about solar energy, improve their knowledge and develop the technical skills needed in this field.
• Better Technology: These steps will help member countries get better technology, trained workers and the knowledge required to start and expand solar energy projects.

Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026

• Inauguration: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026 on 2 November 2026 in New Delhi. The event is scheduled to end on 5 November 2026.
• Global Participation: Ministers, government representatives and other important officials from different countries took part in the summit. They came together to discuss the growth of renewable energy and ways to work together.
• Main Focus: The main discussions were about increasing investment in renewable energy, starting new solar energy projects and making clean electricity available to more people.
• Future Approach: Pralhad Joshi said that countries should not just make promises about clean energy but should also take real steps. They should invest money, work together and start projects that bring benefits to ordinary people.

India’s Vision for Clean Energy

• One Sun, One World, One Grid: India is promoting the idea of connecting different countries through solar energy networks. The main aim is to encourage countries to work together so that solar electricity can be shared between different regions.
• Affordable Electricity: India wants to make clean and reliable electricity available to everyone, especially people living in developing countries and areas where electricity facilities are limited.
• Artificial Intelligence: The Union Minister also pointed out that the growing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) will increase the demand for affordable, reliable and clean electricity.
• Future Priorities: During its new term, India will focus on bringing more investment, increasing solar power production, building stronger relationships with other countries and turning plans into successful projects.

Important Questions

1. When was the International Solar Alliance jointly launched by India and France?
2. Where is the headquarters of the International Solar Alliance located?
3. Which two countries have been re-elected as President and Co-President of the International Solar Alliance for the third consecutive term?
4. What is the main objective of the PM-KUSUM scheme?
5. What is the main purpose of the One Sun, One World, One Grid initiative?

Conclusion

India’s re-election as President of the International Solar Alliance for the third consecutive term is an important achievement for the country. It shows that other countries trust India’s efforts to promote clean and renewable energy. Through financial support, better technology, solar farming and cooperation with other countries, India is working to make solar energy cheaper and easier to access across the world. This will also help developing countries move towards a cleaner and better future.