According to a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) news release, India officially signed the Headquarters Agreement with the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) earlier today, confirming its position as the alliance’s permanent base host country.

On behalf of their respective parties, S P Yadav, Director General of IBCA, and P Kumaran, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, signed the agreement at the signing ceremony in New Delhi.
Randhir Jaiswal, the MEA’s official spokesperson, shared information regarding the matter on X, previously Twitter.

“The Headquarters Agreement between the Government of India and the IBCA was signed in New Delhi by Secretary (East) P Kumaran and S.P. Yadav, the DG of the International Big Cat Alliance.
For five years, from 2023–2024 to 2028–2029, the GoI gives IBCA INR 150 crore in financial assistance to create infrastructure, establish a corpus, and cover recurrent expenses.

The protection of the seven big cats—the tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma—is the main goal of the IBCA. This program highlights India’s leadership and dedication to global wildlife conservation while aiming to promote worldwide cooperation for a sustainable future for big cats.

The agreement establishes a legal structure to guarantee the alliance’s ability to operate efficiently and achieve its long-term conservation objectives, designating India as the host nation for the IBCA Headquarters and Secretariat.

It contains comprehensive clauses pertaining to membership and staff of the IBCA Secretariat, entrance into effect, visas, privileges and immunities, and duties pertaining to the premises and general operations. According to the MEA’s news release, the wording also permits future supplemental agreements to handle certain administrative requirements.

The Government of India has committed to provide the IBCA INR 150 crore in financial support. For five years, from 2023–2024 to 2028–2029, this funds will be utilised to build a fundamental corpus, build necessary infrastructure, and pay for ongoing expenses. This contribution demonstrates India’s active participation in the global endeavour and its focus on international conservation cooperation.

On April 9, 2023, the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India formally introduced the IBCA during a celebration commemorating Project Tiger’s 50th anniversary in Mysuru. The seven major big cat species—tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma—are the focus of the partnership.

According to the news release, its objectives include encouraging cooperation between interested parties, exchanging knowledge and effective conservation strategies, and enabling coordinated efforts to protect these species in the wild.