India has signed the Headquarters Agreement with the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), cementing its commitment to global wildlife conservation. The agreement was signed by Shri P Kumaran, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, and Dr S.P. Yadav, Director General, IBCA, on April 17, 2025, in New Delhi.
The Headquarters Agreement provides for India to host the IBCA Secretariat and enables the organization to meet its objectives and discharge its official functions efficiently. The agreement includes provisions related to visas, privileges, and immunities for the IBCA Secretariat and personnel, premises, entry into force, supplementary agreements, and general provisions.
The Government of India has pledged to provide a budgetary support of Rs 150 crore to IBCA for creating a corpus, building infrastructure, and meeting recurring expenditure over five years from 2023-24 to 2028-29. This initiative aims to foster international collaboration for the sustainable future of big cats and underscores India's leadership in global wildlife conservation.
The International Big Cat Alliance was launched by the Hon'ble Prime Minister on April 9, 2023, during an event commemorating 50 years of Project Tiger at Mysuru. The alliance primarily focuses on the conservation of seven big cat species – tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma – with objectives such as facilitating collaboration and synergy amongst stakeholders, consolidating successful conservation practices, and achieving global conservation of big cats.
This signing marks a significant step towards securing India's position as a global leader in wildlife conservation. The IBCA initiative will enable collaborative efforts to protect the world's majestic big cat species, and India's commitment to this endeavor is expected to have far-reaching benefits for global wildlife conservation.