MNRE Hosts 2nd Assembly of ISA in New Delhi

Romania Joins As The 118th Member Country Of International Solar Alliance

The said Assembly meet is significant as it is the supreme decision making body of ISA, which provides directions on various administrative, financial and programme related issues.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is hosting the second Assembly of Gurugram-headquartered International Solar Alliance (ISA) on Thursday in New Delhi.

However, the member consultation on the composition and structure of the ISA Committees was held on Wednesday.

The said Assembly meet is significant as it is the supreme decision making body of ISA, which provides directions on various administrative, financial and programme related issues.

Further, this meet is jointly chaired by Power Minister R.K. Singh and Brune Poirson, Minister of State for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition Govt. of France. It is also expected that more than 400 delegates will participate in the Assembly including ministers and delegates from member states, observer states, ISA partners, and other invitees.

Currently, 81 out of the 121 prospective member countries have signed the ISA Framework Agreement, and among them 58 countries have ratified the same.

Last year, ISA’s first Assembly was attended by 78 countries, and during the event all the countries had affirmed their determination to accelerate the deployment of solar energy worldwide for achieving universal energy access at affordable rates.

During at the Assembly, Indian resolution was also adopted to extend the Membership of the organisation to all countries that are Members of the United Nations.

Since last Assembly, ISA has initiated many activities and programmes through which demand for more than 1 GW solar power along with 3 lakh solar water pumps has been aggregated from ISA member countries.

Some of the other major activities include, building domestic capacity of the ISA member countries including ITEC Master Trainers Programme at NISE Gurugram; M. Tech programme for mid-career professionals at IIT, Delhi; STAR-C programme, and development of the INFOPEDIA.

It has to be said, that while the progress of the ISA remains satisfactory, India risks losing momentum as a founder member, thanks to its inability to reconcile its inherent contradictions. Besides its continued dependence on coal, where the tide globally is turning away much faster than anticipated, is the continued struggle to provide growth momentum to its own solar plans. A founding member with a struggling solar sector of its own, or one dominated by Chinese firms completely, is hardly the reason India rushed into the massive step to form the ISA. It is a time for deep contemplation therefore, for both industry and government in India, as it seeks to maintain its leadership status as a founder at this prestigious global initiative.