Droupadi Murmu, the respected President of India recently delivered a keynote address at the Eighth Session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly at the iconic Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Her address set the tone for the assembly’s high-level deliberations, which were hosting ministers, policymakers, and international partners from 125 Member and Signatory Countries.
In her keynote address, Murmu said, “The International Solar Alliance has already made remarkable progress, including the Global Solar Facility, Small Island Developing States Platform, Africa’s solar mini-grids and emerging digital innovations. The next step must be deeper inclusivity, ensuring that no woman, no farmer, no village, and no small island is left behind in this solar revolution. India remains steadfast in its commitment to work with all ISA Member Countries to build a solar-powered world – one in which every region, from the smallest island to the largest continent, prospers.”
She further added, “As this Assembly deliberates on the way forward, I urge all Member Countries to think beyond infrastructure and focus on the lives of the people. I urge this Assembly to develop a collective action plan that links solar energy with job creation, women’s leadership, rural livelihoods, and digital inclusion. Our progress should not only be measured through megawatts but through the number of lives illuminated, the number of families strengthened, and the number of communities transformed. The focus should also be on technology development and on sharing the latest and advanced technologies with all for maximum benefit. As we expand large-scale solar installations, we should ensure that the ecological balance of the region is preserved. After all, environment conservation for future is the very reason we are turning to green energy.”
