changeadminIndian Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, reaffirmed India’s commitment towards advancing international solar cooperation and ensuring that the benefits of progress are shared equitably.
Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi addressed the media at a press conference during the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026 here today.
The Minister highlighted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India has remained steadfast in its commitment to advancing international solar cooperation, guided by the vision of Power To Empower and the principle of One Sun, One World, One Grid.
India has been elected President of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) for the third consecutive term. He recalled that this conviction had brought India and France together to establish the International Solar Alliance in 2015.
Today, with 130 ISA Signatory and Member Countries, the vision has evolved into a powerful platform for international cooperation, particularly for the Global South.
On 2nd November, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026, and it will conclude on 5th November, 2026.
Mr Joshi said the discussions over the last two days and the next two days would reinforce a clear priority: moving from solar commitments to investments, from partnerships to projects, and from ambition to impact.
Highlighting the Alliance’s key priorities, the Minister emphasised the importance of financing solar deployment where it matters most.
He said the USD 200 million Africa Solar Facility marked an important step toward unlocking investment in Africa’s distributed renewable energy sector.
India’s commitment of around ₹225 crore (USD 25 million) reinforced its resolve to make affordable solar energy accessible to underserved communities.
He further highlighted that the USD 300 million Nigeria Distributed Renewable Energy Fund offered a model for scaling this approach across the continent.
Emphasising solar energy’s role in transforming lives, Mr Joshi highlighted the importance of delivering solutions at scale.
He said ISA-supported initiatives in Fiji, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles showed how solar energy can strengthen livelihoods and climate resilience by powering healthcare facilities and schools, providing clean drinking water and supporting agricultural cold storage.
He further informed that the Alliance was advancing aggregated solar and storage opportunities, beginning with Mauritius, to create scalable models for Small Island Developing States.
The Minister also highlighted the importance of empowering 3 million farmers through solar energy and expanding into Agri-PV.
He said India’s PM-KUSUM initiative showed how solar-powered agriculture could reduce irrigation costs and create additional income opportunities.
Through ISA, efforts are underway to adapt this model across Member Countries, particularly in Africa, placing farmers at the centre of the energy transition.
On strengthening national capabilities, Mr Joshi highlighted the establishment of 17 Solar Technology Application Resource Centres, the Global Capability Centre–SHINE (Strategic Hub for Innovation and Execution) and the AI-enabled ISA Academy.
He said the focus was on strengthening institutions, developing skills, and harnessing emerging technologies to accelerate solar deployment.
Highlighting the growing importance of clean energy amid technological advancements, the Minister said that as artificial intelligence reshapes economies, access to affordable, reliable and clean electricity will become an even greater strategic imperative.
Minister Joshi emphasised that the Assembly’s message was clear: the future of solar energy must be built through shared responsibility, sustained investment and collective action.
On behalf of the Government of India, he expressed sincere gratitude to all Member Countries for reposing their trust in India and electing it to the Presidency of the International Solar Alliance for a third consecutive term. He also congratulated France and its Minister on being re-elected as co-president of ISA.
Concluding his address, Mr Joshi stated that as India began its new term, the focus would remain on mobilising investment, accelerating deployment and translating collective ambitions into tangible outcomes for communities and nations.
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