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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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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
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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.
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