Question 84 from UPSC CSE 2016 - Current
Affairs

Question

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?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. 1 only

Strategy: Evaluate Statement 1 by recalling facts about the International Solar Alliance (ISA). The ISA was a prominent initiative launched at the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, so this statement aligns with known facts.

Next, analyze Statement 2. The phrase 'all the member countries' is an absolute claim that should be scrutinized. While the ISA's membership criteria have expanded, membership is voluntary and does not automatically include all UN member countries. Therefore, Statement 2 is incorrect. Based on this analysis, only Statement 1 is correct.

Key Info: The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is an intergovernmental organization with a primary objective to work for efficient consumption of solar energy to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

*   **Formation and Launch:** The ISA was jointly launched by India and France on 30 November 2015, at the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris, France. This initiative aimed to create a platform for cooperation among solar-resource-rich countries.
*   **Headquarters:** The ISA's headquarters is located in Gurugram, Haryana, India, making it the first international intergovernmental organization to be headquartered in India.
*   **Objective:** Its main goal is to mobilize investments for solar energy, facilitate the deployment of solar technologies, and reduce the cost of finance for solar projects globally, particularly in developing countries.
*   **Membership:** Initially, the ISA focused on 'sunshine countries,' meaning those located fully or partially between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, as these regions receive abundant solar radiation. However, the framework agreement of the ISA was amended in 2020, opening its membership to all member states of the United Nations that ratify the agreement. Despite this expansion of eligibility, it does not automatically include all UN member countries; membership remains voluntary and subject to ratification.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: 2 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: Both 1 and 2

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: Neither 1 nor 2

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

Consider the following statements:

The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015.

The Alliance includes all the member countries of the United Nations.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?