India Re-elected as ISA President for Third Consecutive Term
France was re-elected as co-President of the ISA. Joshi congratulated France and thanked member countries for continuing to place their confidence in India’s leadership. He said the alliance’s latest session reaffirmed the importance of ensuring that the benefits of progress are shared widely.
Joshi reiterated India’s commitment to advancing international solar cooperation under the vision of Power to Empower and the principle of One Sun, One World, One Grid. India and France co-founded the ISA in 2015, and the alliance has since grown to include 130 signatory and member countries, becoming an important platform for cooperation, particularly among countries in the Global South.
The Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026 was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 2 November and will conclude on 5 November. Discussions at the event are focused on translating solar commitments into investments, partnerships into projects and broader ambitions into measurable impact.
Joshi highlighted financing initiatives including the $200 mn Africa Solar Facility and India’s commitment of about Rs. 2.25 bn to expand affordable solar access. The $300 mn Nigeria Distributed Renewable Energy Fund was cited as a scalable model. ISA-supported projects in Fiji, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles are supplying power to healthcare facilities, schools, clean water systems and agricultural cold storage. Solar and storage opportunities for Small Island Developing States are being developed, beginning with Mauritius.
The minister also outlined plans to empower 3 mn farmers through solar energy and agri-photovoltaics, drawing on India’s PM-KUSUM scheme. The model is being adapted for other member countries, especially in Africa. Capacity-building initiatives include 17 Solar Technology Application Resource Centres, the Global Capability Centre–SHINE and an artificial intelligence-enabled ISA Academy.