President inaugurates 8th session of International Solar Alliance Assembly

New Delhi, Oct 28: President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday inaugurated the opening plenary of the Eighth Session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly in New Delhi, calling for solar energy to be viewed not merely as a tool for power generation but as a means of empowerment and inclusive growth.

Addressing delegates, the President said the ISA represented “humanity’s shared aspiration to harness solar energy as a source of inclusion, dignity, and collective prosperity.”

Underscoring the urgency of the climate crisis, she said India was taking “determined steps” to combat global warming and that the ISA offered a vital platform for advancing the adoption of clean, renewable energy worldwide. Highlighting India’s own development experience, President Murmu said energy equity formed the basis of social equity. “Access to affordable and clean energy empowers communities, drives local economies, and opens up opportunities that extend well beyond electricity,” she said.

The President urged ISA member countries to “think beyond infrastructure” and frame a collective action plan that links solar energy with employment, women’s leadership, rural livelihoods, and digital inclusion. “Our progress should be measured not only in megawatts but in the number of lives illuminated, families strengthened, and communities transformed,” she noted. Emphasising environmental stewardship, President Murmu cautioned that large-scale solar installations must not disturb regional ecological balance. “Environment conservation is the very reason for turning to green energy,” she said. Calling for shared innovation and technology transfer, the President said member nations must work with greater dedication “not only for our own countries but for the entire world, and not only for the present generation but for future generations.” She expressed confidence that the Assembly’s deliberations would mark a milestone in advancing solar energy production and help build “an inclusive and equitable world.”