Description

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Context

The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) signed an agreement with the central government formalising India as the headquarters and secretariat of the alliance, over two months after it came into force as a full-fledged treaty-based intergovernmental organisation.

Details

India and IBCA signed a Headquarters Agreement that provides for:

Legal framework for operations.

Privileges, immunities, and facilities for the Secretariat and its personnel.

Provisions on visas, premises, supplementary agreements etc.

About IBCA

Background

Launched in April 2023 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger.

Purpose: To foster global conservation efforts for seven major big cat species.

Institutional Structure

Component	Details
Implementing Agency	National Tiger Conservation Authority under MoEFCC
Type of Organization	Treaty-based intergovernmental organization
Members	Open to all UN Member States — both range and non-range countries
Current Ratifying Members	India, Nicaragua, Eswatini, Somalia, Liberia

Funding and Support

Parameter	Details
Budgetary Support by India	₹150 crore (2023–24 to 2028–29)
Purpose	- Create corpus fund - Build infrastructure - Meet recurring expenses
Funding Period	Initial five years

Significance of IBCA

Reinforces India's leadership in wildlife conservation.

Offers a collaborative platform for conservation research, capacity building and funding support.

Enhances India’s soft power in conservation diplomacy.

Strengthens South-South cooperation especially among developing countries.

Aligns with global biodiversity conservation efforts such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022).

Focus Areas

Habitat conservation.

Preventing illegal wildlife trade.

Promoting scientific research and data sharing.

Sustainable tourism and local community engagement.

About the Seven Big Cats

Big Cat	Key Range Countries
Tiger	India, Bangladesh, Russia, Nepal
Lion	India (Asiatic Lion in Gir), Sub-Saharan Africa
Leopard	Widely distributed across Africa and Asia
Snow Leopard	India, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia
Puma (Cougar/Mountain Lion)	Americas (Canada to South America)
Jaguar	Central and South America
Cheetah	Africa, (Reintroduced into India from Namibia)

Must Read: 7 Big Cats

Sources: INDIANEXPRESS

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. With reference to the International Big Cat Alliance consider the following statements:

It aims to conserve only the five big cats found naturally in India.
India hosts the headquarters and secretariat of the IBCA.
Only range countries where big cats are naturally found can become members of the IBCA.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: B.

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: IBCA focuses on seven big cats globally Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Puma, Jaguar and Cheetah not just those found in India.

Statement 2 is correct: India will host the headquarters and secretariat of the IBCA as per the 2025 agreement.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Membership is open to all UN member states not just range countries.