Question

Difficulty: MediumInternational Relations, Global Summits, and Multilateral Organizations

With reference to the International Solar Alliance (ISA), an international treaty-based multilateral organization, which of the following statements are correct?

  1. It was jointly launched by India and France on the sidelines of the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) to the UNFCCC held in Paris.Answer
  2. The interim secretariat and global headquarters of the organization are established in Gurugram, India.Answer
  3. C
    Full membership in the alliance is strictly restricted to countries geographically located entirely between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
  4. D
    It operates as a subsidiary body functioning under the direct administrative control of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Answer

The correct statements are that the International Solar Alliance was jointly launched by India and France during COP21 in Paris, and that its global secretariat is located in Gurugram, India.
The International Solar Alliance was jointly launched by India and France at the Paris Climate Conference (COP21) in 2015, and its international headquarters is based in Gurugram, India.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate founding history and launch venue
Confirm joint India-France initiation at COP21 in Paris (2015).
The launch context is a fundamental structural fact of the alliance.
2
Verify institutional headquarters location
Confirm Gurugram, Haryana, India as the host location.
The ISA is notable as the first international intergovernmental body headquartered in India.
3
Assess membership criteria amendments
Identify that membership was expanded to all UN member states, invalidating tropical location restrictions.
The 2018 amendment (enforced 2020) opened ISA membership beyond solar-rich inter-tropical countries.
4
Examine organizational affiliation
Recognize ISA as an independent treaty body rather than a WMO subsidiary.
Multilateral intergovernmental organizations maintain independent founding treaties and governance assemblies.

Key Concept

Founding history, institutional headquarters, and updated membership provisions of the International Solar Alliance (ISA)
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