With this step, India takes a major step towards global wildlife conservation as the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India signs a formal agreement with the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) to establish its headquarters and secretariat in India. This pact is designed to encourage international cooperation for the conservation of tigers and other big cat species around the world.
MEA Secretary (East) P. Kumaran and IBCA Director General S.P. Yadav signed the Headquarters Agreement. The IBCA will officially host its headquarters in India, and in the agreement, India will provide a framework to the IBCA for support of its operations and its overall purpose. It stipulates visa and privileges to be accorded to IBCA personnel, the premises regulations, and other legal aspects, among others.
An official statement said that the budgetary support given by the Government of India to the IBCA for the period 2023–24 to 2028–29 stands at ₹150 crore. It will be used for building and infrastructure, building a working corpus and recurring expenditure for the next five years.
The agreement to that effect—the so-called framework agreement—that is the basis of the establishment of the IBCA, formally came into being on January 23, 2025. The agreement will also have the MEA as a depository for all the documents of the ratification, acceptance, approval, or accession by countries wishing to be parties to the agreement.
Five countries have fulfilled the necessary formalities under Article VIII (1) of the Framework Agreement, namely the Republic of Nicaragua, the Kingdom of Eswatini, the Republic of India, the Federal Republic of Somalia, and the Republic of Liberia. ‘This serves as a major milestone that speaks to greater international dedication to protect and conserve big cats — tigers, lions, leopards, jaguars and snow leopards,’ she continued.
As the central hub, India is now set to be the core of the IBCA in its role to be a key player in facilitating global partnerships for the protection of these majestic predators.
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