New Delhi: In a significant boost to global wildlife conservation efforts, the Government of India and the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) have signed a landmark agreement to establish the alliance’s permanent headquarters and secretariat in New Delhi.
The agreement was signed on Thursday by P. Kumaran, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), and S.P. Yadav, Director General of IBCA, marking a major milestone in India’s leadership role in wildlife preservation.
The Government of India has committed ₹150 crore in budgetary support to the IBCA, which will be used to create a corpus, build infrastructure, and cover recurring expenses over a five-year period from 2023–24 to 2028–29.
The IBCA was first launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 9, 2023, during the 50th anniversary celebration of Project Tiger. It officially transitioned into a treaty-based intergovernmental organization in 2025, reflecting the growing international consensus on the urgent need to protect the planet’s top predators.
The signed Headquarters Agreement outlines India’s role as the host country and includes key provisions to facilitate IBCA’s functions. These include visa arrangements, immunities and privileges for IBCA personnel, and operational autonomy for the organization.
According to the MEA, the agreement “entails necessary provisions to enable IBCA to meet its intended objectives and also for the efficient discharge of its official functions.”
The IBCA is dedicated to the conservation of the world’s seven major big cat species – tigers, lions, leopards, snow leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, and pumas. The alliance aims to foster international collaboration, promote knowledge-sharing, and replicate successful conservation models globally.
“The initiative not only underscores India’s commitment to global biodiversity protection but also reinforces its leadership in wildlife conservation,” the MEA added.
With its headquarters now set to be in India, the IBCA is expected to become a hub for global cooperation in big cat conservation, positioning the country at the forefront of a new international movement to safeguard these iconic species for future generations.
