India signs headquarters agreement with International Big Cat Alliance

New Delhi, Apr 17: The Government of India and the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) signed the Headquarters Agreement today in New Delhi, officially designating India as the host nation for the IBCA Secretariat.

The agreement was signed by P. Kumaran, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, and Dr. S.P. Yadav, Director General of IBCA.

The Headquarters Agreement formalises the institutional framework for IBCA’s operations in India, providing the alliance with legal and functional autonomy to carry out its mission. The document outlines provisions related to privileges and immunities for IBCA staff, visa facilitation, infrastructure development, and the legal status of its premises. It also includes general clauses on the entry into force of the agreement and provisions for supplementary arrangements. India has committed financial support of Rs 150 crore to the Alliance over a five-year period (2023–24 to 2028–29). This allocation will be used to create a corpus fund, build necessary infrastructure, and support recurring expenditures essential for the alliance’s functioning.

The International Big Cat Alliance was launched on April 9, 2023, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an event marking 50 years of Project Tiger in Mysuru. The IBCA represents a pioneering effort to bring together range countries, conservation organisations, scientists, and civil society groups under a unified platform to safeguard the world’s seven major big cat species: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma.

The Alliance has garnered recognition and support from multiple countries, international conservation bodies, and multilateral organisations. Its inclusive, science-based approach positions it as a catalyst for multilateral cooperation in biodiversity preservation, especially in regions where big cats play a critical ecological role.

India’s hosting of the IBCA Secretariat highlights the country’s enduring commitment to wildlife conservation and environmental stewardship. With a long history of successful initiatives like Project Tiger and the more recent reintroduction of cheetahs into the wild, India continues to serve as a global exemplar in big cat conservation. By anchoring the IBCA, India is not only advancing its own conservation legacy but also offering a platform for global action in preserving these apex predators and their habitats for future generations.