The International Solar Alliance (ISA) marked its 10th Foundation Day on 11 March 2026. The ISA is a treaty-based international intergovernmental organisation established by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of France François Hollande on November 30, 2015. It was first proposed during the COP21 climate conference in Paris in 2015. Today, 125 countries have signed the agreement, and over 100 have ratified it to become full members. The Alliance aims to mobilise about USD 1 trillion in solar investments by 2030, while also working to lower the costs of solar technology and financing.
10th Anniversary of ISA Foundation Day
Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Shri Pralhad Joshi addressed the ISA Foundation Day celebrations in New Delhi on 11 March 2026, stating that the Alliance reflects the power of shared vision and global partnership in advancing sustainable development through solar energy.
In his speech, the minister said, “Over the past decade, the International Solar Alliance has helped turn the promise of solar energy into real, life-changing impact across the world. By advancing solar deployment where it matters most, ISA has played a catalytic role in shifting the global energy transition toward emerging and developing economies, bringing clean, reliable power to communities that need it most.” The minister also highlighted that the creation of ISA is rooted in the Indian philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
ISA Director General Shri Ashish Khanna remarked, “The Alliance today has grown into a global coalition of 125 member and signatory countries united by the belief that the world’s most abundant energy source must also be its most democratic. Our members across Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Europe are the true custodians of ISA’s progress.”
New Initiatives Launched
The occasion marked the announcement of the ISA’s Green Hydrogen and Storage Start-up Challenge 2026, aimed at identifying and supporting innovative start-ups working at the forefront of green hydrogen and energy storage solutions. The Challenge will offer selected startups structured acceleration and mentoring support, as well as access to ISA’s member country markets to enable technology transfer and scale-up.
The International Solar Alliance also launched a new, enhanced website designed to meet the growing needs of its member countries and partners. The upgraded platform strengthens access to knowledge, programmes and opportunities, improves stakeholder engagement, and reflects ISA’s expanding portfolio and global ambitions.
India’s Solar Progress
Shri Joshi observed that while it took nearly twenty-five years for the world to install the first 1,000 gigawatts of solar capacity, the next 1,000 gigawatts are expected to be achieved much faster, signalling a new era in the global energy transition. Programmes such as PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana are enabling millions of households to generate their own clean electricity, while PM-KUSUM is empowering farmers through solar-powered irrigation systems.
India’s solar capacity has surged from just 3 GW in 2014 to 141 GW today — a more than 40-fold increase. This rapid growth has made solar the largest contributor to India’s renewable energy portfolio, surpassing wind, hydro, and biomass capacities.
India hosted the 8th ISA Assembly in New Delhi in October 2025, bringing together over 550 delegates and 30 ministers from more than 125 member and signatory countries to advance strategies for resilient solar value chains, inclusive access, and accelerated solar adoption.
