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Q81 (IAS/2016) Environment & Ecology › Climate Change & Global Initiatives › Climate governance initiatives Official Key

Consider the following statements : 1. The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015. 2. The Alliance includes all the member countries of the United Nations. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: A
Explanation

The correct answer is option A (Statement 1 only).

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) was launched at the COP21 Climate Conference in Paris on November 30, 2015[1], which was indeed the United Nations Climate Change Conference. Therefore, Statement 1 is correct.

However, Statement 2 is incorrect. ISA was initially launched as a special platform for mutual cooperation among solar resource-rich countries lying fully or partially between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn[1]. It is an alliance of 121 countries, most of them being sunshine countries, which lie either completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn[2]. While all member states of the United Nations became eligible to join the ISA after the amendment of its Framework Agreement in 2020[3], this does not mean all UN members are actually part of the alliance. Countries that do not fall within the Tropics can join the alliance and enjoy all benefits as other members, with the exception of voting rights[2], but membership is voluntary, not automatic.

Sources
  1. [1] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 22: Renewable Energy > ez.r.5 International Solar Alliance > p. 288
  2. [2] Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 15: Infrastructure > INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE > p. 451
  3. [3] https://indianexpress.com/article/world/nepal-parliament-ratification-agreement-international-solar-alliance-9380036/
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PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. Consider the following statements : 1. The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in …
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Moderate fairness Books / CA: 5/10 · 5/10

This is a classic 'India-led Initiative' question. When India launches a global body, you must memorize three pillars: 1) The Launch Venue/Year, 2) The exact Membership Criteria (who is in/out), and 3) The Headquarters location. Statement 2 is a standard 'extreme statement' trap.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Was the International Solar Alliance (ISA) launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in 2015?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 22: Renewable Energy > ez.r.5 International Solar Alliance > p. 288
Presence: 5/5
“International Solar Alliance (lSA) is launched at the COP21 Climate Conference in Paris on November 30 as a special platform for mutual cooperation among solar resource-rich countries lying fully or partially between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn. The alliance is dedicated to address special energy needs of ISA member countries. International Agency for Solar Policy and Application (IASPA) will be the formal name of International Solar Energy Alliance. All Rights Reserved No part of this material may be reproduced in any form or by any means, without perrnission in writing.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states ISA was launched at the COP21 Climate Conference in Paris (mentions launch at COP21 on November 30).
  • Directly links the Alliance's founding event to the Paris COP21 conference, which is the core claim in the statement.
Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 15: Infrastructure > INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE > p. 451
Presence: 5/5
“International Solar Alliance (ISA) was initiated by India in 2015; it is an alliance of 121 countries, most of them being sunshine countries, which lie either completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. The aim of ISA is to work for efficient exploitation of solar energy. Countries that do not fall within the Tropics, can also join the alliance and enjoy all benefits as other members, with the exception of voting rights. ISA is headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana.”
Why this source?
  • Specifies that ISA was initiated in 2015, supporting the year given in the statement.
  • Describes ISA as an initiative of India, aligning with accounts of its 2015 origin.
Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: Natural Resources and Their Use > The International Solar Alliance — India's leadership in renewable energy > p. 18
Presence: 4/5
“India and France launched the International Alliance for Solar Energy (IASE) in 2015 — a coalition of sunshine-rich countries committed to harnessing solar power. The alliance focuses on countries blessed with abundant sunlight throughout the year. India has helped channel billions of dollars into solar projects across developing nations, sharing technical expertise and creating affordable financing options. The Bhadla Solar Park is a symbol of India's solar ambitions, demonstrating how a country can transition from traditional energy sources to renewable alternatives. For Indians, this alliance represents both environmental responsibility and economic opportunity. Even as we deal with these issues we must be mindful that the distribution and access to resources, including basic ones like water and clean air, is often unfair to some sections of society.”
Why this source?
  • States India and France launched the International Alliance for Solar Energy in 2015, corroborating the 2015 launch and bilateral leadership.
  • Reinforces the timing and international partnership aspect of ISA's founding.
Statement 2
Does the International Solar Alliance (ISA) include all member countries of the United Nations?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"With the amendment of its Framework Agreement in 2020, all member states of the United Nations are eligible to join the ISA. At present, 119 countries, including Nepal, are signatories to the ISA Framework Agreement, of which 98 countries have submitted the necessary instruments of ratification to become full members of the ISA."
Why this source?
  • Says the ISA Framework was amended in 2020 so that all UN member states are eligible to join (eligibility ≠ automatic inclusion).
  • Gives current counts showing far fewer signatories/members than total UN membership (119 signatories; 98 ratified members), implying not all UN members are included.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"The International Solar Alliance members include 106 members and 18 signatories."
Why this source?
  • Provides a membership count (106 members and 18 signatories) that is much lower than the total number of UN member states, indicating ISA does not include all UN members.
  • Reinforces that ISA has distinct categories (members vs signatories), not identical to universal UN membership.

Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 15: Infrastructure > INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE > p. 451
Strength: 5/5
“International Solar Alliance (ISA) was initiated by India in 2015; it is an alliance of 121 countries, most of them being sunshine countries, which lie either completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. The aim of ISA is to work for efficient exploitation of solar energy. Countries that do not fall within the Tropics, can also join the alliance and enjoy all benefits as other members, with the exception of voting rights. ISA is headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana.”
Why relevant

States ISA is an alliance of 121 countries, mostly those lying completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, and notes countries outside the tropics can join but with exceptions (voting rights).

How to extend

Compare the cited ISA membership count and its tropical membership rule with the total number of UN member states to judge whether ISA could include all UN members.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 22: Renewable Energy > ez.r.5 International Solar Alliance > p. 289
Strength: 5/5
“Alliance. The ISA secretariat will be set up in National Institute of Solar Energy, Gurgaon, So far 94 countries ratified ISA.”
Why relevant

Gives a separate datum that 'So far 94 countries ratified ISA', highlighting a membership/ratification figure well below the total UN membership.

How to extend

Use the 94 ratification number as a lower bound and contrast it with the UN's full membership to infer that ISA does not encompass all UN states.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 22: Renewable Energy > ez.r.5 International Solar Alliance > p. 288
Strength: 4/5
“International Solar Alliance (lSA) is launched at the COP21 Climate Conference in Paris on November 30 as a special platform for mutual cooperation among solar resource-rich countries lying fully or partially between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn. The alliance is dedicated to address special energy needs of ISA member countries. International Agency for Solar Policy and Application (IASPA) will be the formal name of International Solar Energy Alliance. All Rights Reserved No part of this material may be reproduced in any form or by any means, without perrnission in writing.”
Why relevant

Defines ISA as a special platform for mutual cooperation among solar resource‑rich countries lying fully or partially between the two tropics (a membership criterion based on geography).

How to extend

Apply the geographic criterion to a world map of UN member states to see which UN members fall outside the tropics and thus would not meet ISA's primary eligibility.

Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: Natural Resources and Their Use > The International Solar Alliance — India's leadership in renewable energy > p. 18
Strength: 4/5
“India and France launched the International Alliance for Solar Energy (IASE) in 2015 — a coalition of sunshine-rich countries committed to harnessing solar power. The alliance focuses on countries blessed with abundant sunlight throughout the year. India has helped channel billions of dollars into solar projects across developing nations, sharing technical expertise and creating affordable financing options. The Bhadla Solar Park is a symbol of India's solar ambitions, demonstrating how a country can transition from traditional energy sources to renewable alternatives. For Indians, this alliance represents both environmental responsibility and economic opportunity. Even as we deal with these issues we must be mindful that the distribution and access to resources, including basic ones like water and clean air, is often unfair to some sections of society.”
Why relevant

Describes ISA as a 'coalition of sunshine‑rich countries'—emphasising that membership is targeted, not universal.

How to extend

Interpret this targeted coalition nature to anticipate that many UN members (e.g., high‑latitude states) are unlikely ISA members without checking individual lists.

Contemporary World Politics, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: International Organisations > Chapter 4 International Organisations > p. 50
Strength: 5/5
“It was founded with the hope that it would act to stop the conflicts between states escalating into war and, if war broke out, to limit the extent of hostilities. Furthermore, since conflicts often arose from the lack of social and economic development, the UN was intended to bring countries together to improve the prospects of social and economic development all over the world. By 2011, the UN had 193 member states. These includeed almost all independent states. In the UN General Assembly, all members have one vote each. In the UN Security Council, there are five permanent members. These are: the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France and China.”
Why relevant

States the UN had 193 member states (by 2011 figure cited), providing the baseline total to compare against ISA membership counts.

How to extend

Directly compare the UN total (193) with ISA membership/ratification numbers (121 or 94) to assess whether ISA includes all UN members.

Pattern takeaway: UPSC consistently sets traps on 'Membership Criteria'. They will swap 'Open to all' with 'Restricted to region' or vice versa. If an organization is new, it is statistically impossible for it to include 'all UN members' immediately.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. This was the biggest environmental headline of 2015-16. Covered in every standard current affairs magazine and Shankar IAS Environment book.
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: India's Climate Diplomacy & International Institutions (GS-2 IR + GS-3 Environment).
  3. [THE CONCEPTUAL EXPANSION]: Memorize siblings of ISA: Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) (launched 2019, HQ New Delhi), Global Biofuel Alliance (G20 2023), and 'One Sun One World One Grid' (OSOWOG). Know the HQ of ISA (Gurugram) vs IRENA (Abu Dhabi).
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Never assume universal membership. New organizations rarely start with 'all UN members'. Always check: Is it treaty-based? Is it UN-affiliated or independent? Is membership geographic (Tropics) or economic (G20)?
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 ISA origin: launch event and year
💡 The insight

Several references identify the Alliance's founding event (COP21/Paris) and the launch year (2015).

High-yield for UPSC: knowing the origin and launch context of major international initiatives (where/when/by whom) is frequently tested in polity/environment/IR questions. It connects to questions on climate diplomacy and international partnerships; prepare by memorising key global initiatives with their founding conferences and dates.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 22: Renewable Energy > ez.r.5 International Solar Alliance > p. 288
  • Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 15: Infrastructure > INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE > p. 451
🔗 Anchor: "Was the International Solar Alliance (ISA) launched at the United Nations Climat..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Membership focus: 'sunshine' / tropical countries criterion
💡 The insight

References describe ISA as an alliance of sunshine-rich countries lying fully or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn.

Useful for questions on institutional mandates and membership rules in international organisations; links geography (tropics) with climate/energy policy. Master by mapping mandate + membership criteria for major international bodies and noting geographic or functional eligibility.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 22: Renewable Energy > ez.r.5 International Solar Alliance > p. 288
  • Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 15: Infrastructure > INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE > p. 451
🔗 Anchor: "Was the International Solar Alliance (ISA) launched at the United Nations Climat..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 India–France leadership in climate initiatives
💡 The insight

Evidence notes India (and France) launched the alliance and that India has promoted/channeled support through ISA.

Exam-relevant for questions on India's role in global climate diplomacy and bilateral/multilateral partnerships. Helps answer polity, international relations and environment questions; study by collating examples of India-led global initiatives and their impacts.

📚 Reading List :
  • Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: Natural Resources and Their Use > The International Solar Alliance — India's leadership in renewable energy > p. 18
  • Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 21: Sustainable Development and Climate Change > SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS > p. 600
🔗 Anchor: "Was the International Solar Alliance (ISA) launched at the United Nations Climat..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 ISA vs UN membership counts
💡 The insight

References give ISA membership (121 countries) and the UN's total membership (193), enabling a direct numerical comparison.

Counts and comparative membership figures for international organisations are frequently tested in prelims and used in mains answers to show scale and representativeness. Master by memorising key membership numbers and practising comparison-based questions linking organisations and their mandates.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 15: Infrastructure > INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE > p. 451
  • Contemporary World Politics, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: International Organisations > Chapter 4 International Organisations > p. 50
🔗 Anchor: "Does the International Solar Alliance (ISA) include all member countries of the ..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Tropics-based eligibility for ISA membership
💡 The insight

ISA is described as an alliance primarily of countries lying fully or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, with specific rules for non-tropical countries.

Understanding functional or geographic eligibility criteria explains why some organisations are partial in membership — a recurring UPSC theme linking geography with international relations. Prepare by mapping organisational mandates to geographic/functional criteria and noting exceptions (e.g., membership without voting rights).

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 15: Infrastructure > INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE > p. 451
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 22: Renewable Energy > ez.r.5 International Solar Alliance > p. 288
🔗 Anchor: "Does the International Solar Alliance (ISA) include all member countries of the ..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Signatory/ratification vs membership and rights
💡 The insight

Evidence distinguishes numbers who have ratified ISA (94) from total countries associated (121) and notes differential rights for non-tropical members.

Differentiating signing, ratification, membership and associated rights (like voting) is vital for questions on treaty law, international institutions and India's role in multilateralism. Learn by studying examples of treaties/organisations, tracking ratification status, and noting procedural consequences.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 22: Renewable Energy > ez.r.5 International Solar Alliance > p. 289
  • Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 15: Infrastructure > INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE > p. 451
🔗 Anchor: "Does the International Solar Alliance (ISA) include all member countries of the ..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). Like ISA, it is an India-led global initiative (launched at UN Climate Action Summit 2019). The likely trap: 'CDRI is an agency of the UN' (False, it is a multi-stakeholder global partnership).

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

The 'Universal Set' Impossibility. Statement 2 claims 'includes ALL member countries of the UN'. In international law, getting 193 countries to sign a new treaty instantly is impossible. Even the WTO doesn't have all UN members. 'All' is a red flag for incorrectness here.

🔗 Mains Connection

Mains GS-2 (International Relations): Use ISA as a prime example of India's transition from a 'Rule Taker' to a 'Rule Maker' in global governance. It represents India's 'Soft Power' in the Global South.

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2022 · Q52 Relevance score: 2.95

Consider the following statements: 1. "The Climate Group" is an international non-profit organization that drives climate action by building large networks and runs them. 2. The International Energy Agency in partnership with the Climate Group launched a global initiative "EP100". 3. EP100 brings together leading companies committed to driving innovation in energy efficiency and increasing competitiveness while delivering on emission reduction goals. 4. Some Indian companies are members of EP100. 5. The International Energy Agency is the Secretariat to the "Under2 Coalition". Which of the statements given above are correct?

IAS · 2025 · Q32 Relevance score: 2.23

Consider the following statements : Statement I : At the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), India refrained from signing the 'Declaration on Climate and Health'. Statement II : The COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health is a binding declaration; and if signed, it becomes mandatory to decarbonize health sector. Statement III : If India's health sector is decarbonized, the resilience of its health-care system may be compromised. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

IAS · 2017 · Q52 Relevance score: 1.96

With reference to 'Global Climate Change Alliance', which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is an initiative of the European Union. 2. It provides technical and financial support to targeted developing countries to integrate climate change into their development policies and budgets. 3. It is coordinated by World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Select the correct answer using the code given below :

CAPF · 2025 · Q123 Relevance score: 1.34

Consider the following statements about the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) : 1. It is an international body for assessing the science related to climate change. 2. It was set up in the year 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Which of the statements given above is/are correct?