Joshi Hails France's Third ISA Co-Presidency Win
Synopsis
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi congratulated France on its third consecutive re-election as Co-President of the International Solar Alliance, reaffirming India's commitment to the ISA's mission of accelerating global solar energy adoption for a sustainable future.
Key Takeaways
France has been re-elected as Co-President of the International Solar Alliance for a third consecutive term .
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi extended India's congratulations on 3 November 2026 , pledging continued close collaboration.
The ISA was jointly launched by India and France at COP21 in Paris in 2015 and is headquartered in Gurugram, India .
The alliance focuses on mobilising finance and technology for solar projects in member states, especially tropical nations.
India uses the ISA as a platform for South-South cooperation on renewables, reinforcing its role as a global clean-energy leader.
A founding partnership built under the Paris sky in 2015 just renewed its mandate — and Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi is marking the moment. On Tuesday, 3 November 2026, Joshi extended India's congratulations to France on being re-elected as Co-President of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) for a third consecutive term, signalling that the India-France axis at the heart of global solar diplomacy remains firmly intact.
Posting in both English and Kannada, Joshi wrote: 'Heartiest congratulations to France on being re-elected as Co-President of the ISA for the third consecutive term. India looks forward to continuing its close collaboration with France to advance ISA's shared mission. Together, we will strengthen global partnerships and accelerate the adoption of solar energy for a sustainable and energy-secure future.'
A Partnership Forged at COP21, Now in Its Third Leadership Cycle
The International Solar Alliance was jointly launched by India and France at COP21 in Paris in 2015 — a defining moment in which then-Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then-French President François Hollande stood together to announce a treaty-based body dedicated to mobilising solar energy investments. The ISA, headquartered in Gurugram, India, was designed from the outset as a coalition of sun-rich nations, focused on channelling finance and technology toward solar projects across the tropical belt.
France's repeated re-election to the Co-Presidency — now stretching into a third term — reflects a sustained bilateral alignment on climate and energy goals that has outlasted multiple governments in both countries. It also underlines the ISA's evolution from a launch-day declaration into a functioning multilateral institution with growing membership and a concrete project pipeline.
India's Renewable Energy Ambitions and the ISA's South-South Role
For India, the ISA is both a diplomatic instrument and a policy platform. As co-founder and host nation, India has used the alliance to position itself as a leader in South-South cooperation on renewables — brokering finance and technology transfers to member states that often lack the capital to deploy solar at scale on their own.
Minister Joshi, who holds the New and Renewable Energy portfolio in addition to Consumer Affairs, is a natural voice for this messaging. His post in Kannada alongside English is a signal that the renewable energy narrative is being taken to regional audiences as well — embedding a global climate story in local political communication.
France's continued co-leadership keeps one of Europe's most climate-committed economies anchored to an alliance that bridges the developed and developing world — a structural feature that gives the ISA credibility in both Brussels boardrooms and sub-Saharan solar fields. Watch for the next ISA Assembly session for announcements on new project pipelines or membership expansion that could translate this diplomatic warmth into kilowatts on the ground.
Point of View
Sustaining France in that seat is strategically useful: it keeps a major EU economy visibly committed to a framework India leads, lending the ISA legitimacy in Western climate finance circles. Joshi's bilingual post is also a reminder that New Delhi is increasingly localising its global energy diplomacy, making ISA milestones resonate with domestic audiences in states like Karnataka that are central to India's own solar rollout. The real test, as ever, will be whether this diplomatic momentum translates into bankable projects for member states in the Global South.
NationPress
3 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the International Solar Alliance?
The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is a treaty-based multilateral organisation launched jointly by India and France at COP21 in Paris in 2015. It is headquartered in Gurugram, India, and focuses on mobilising finance and technology to accelerate solar energy deployment, especially in tropical member countries.
Why has France been elected Co-President of the ISA three times?
France is a co-founder of the ISA alongside India, and its repeated election to the Co-Presidency reflects sustained bilateral alignment on climate and energy goals. France's active role in climate diplomacy and its commitment to the ISA's mission have made it a consistent choice for the position.
What did Pralhad Joshi say about France's ISA re-election?
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi congratulated France on its third consecutive re-election as ISA Co-President, stating that India looks forward to continuing close collaboration to advance the ISA's mission and accelerate solar energy adoption for a sustainable and energy-secure future.
When was the International Solar Alliance founded?
The International Solar Alliance was launched in 2015 at COP21 in Paris, co-founded by India and France.
What is India's role in the International Solar Alliance?
India is the co-founder and host nation of the ISA, with the organisation's headquarters located in Gurugram. India has used the platform to lead South-South cooperation on renewables and to broker solar finance and technology transfers for member states.
