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Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav launched the official website and logo of the first International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit on May 6, 2026. The summit will be held on June 1–2, 2026 in New Delhi, bringing together representatives from 95 big cat range countries. India, as the host nation and founding driver of IBCA, is positioning itself as the global leader in big cat conservation.

International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) — Overview

Feature Detail
Full name International Big Cat Alliance
Founded 2023
Headquarters India (New Delhi)
Intergovernmental status Inter-governmental organisation
Member focus 95 big cat range countries
Species covered 7 big cats
India’s role Founding nation; host of Secretariat
Launched by PM Modi on April 9, 2023 (50th anniversary of Project Tiger)
1st Summit June 1–2, 2026, New Delhi

The Seven Big Cats

Species IUCN Status Notable India Context
Tiger Endangered India holds ~75% of wild tigers; Project Tiger (1973)
Lion Vulnerable Only wild population outside Africa: Gir Forest, Gujarat
Leopard Vulnerable Most widespread big cat; ~13,000 in India
Snow Leopard Vulnerable Himalayan states (J&K, HP, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal)
Cheetah Vulnerable Reintroduced to India (Kuno NP, 2022) from Namibia and South Africa
Jaguar Near Threatened Range: Central and South America (not in India)
Puma Least Concern Range: Americas (not in India)

Why IBCA Matters

Threats to Big Cats Globally

  1. Habitat loss — deforestation, agricultural expansion
  2. Human-wildlife conflict — livestock depredation, retaliatory killing
  3. Poaching — skin, bones (traditional medicine, particularly tiger)
  4. Prey base depletion — ungulate hunting
  5. Climate change — habitat shifts, prey distribution changes

India’s Track Record — Basis for Leadership

Programme Status
Project Tiger (1973) 58 Tiger Reserves; tiger population from 1,827 (2022 census) to growing
Project Lion Asiatic Lion Conservation; Gir Forest protected
Project Snow Leopard High-altitude ecosystem conservation
Cheetah reintroduction Kuno NP (2022); first intercontinental cheetah translocation in history
Project Elephant (1992) Elephant corridors, conservation

Global Biodiversity Context

  • Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) (2022): “30×30” target — protect 30% of land + oceans by 2030
  • IBCA aligns with GBF Target 4 (halt species extinction) and Target 3 (30×30)
  • South-South Cooperation: IBCA promotes technology and knowledge transfer between developing range countries

Project Tiger — 50 Years (Key Facts)

Parameter Value
Launched 1973 by PM Indira Gandhi
Initial tiger population 1,827 (1972 census)
Current tiger reserves 58 across India (58th: Madhav NP, MP — added March 2025)
Tiger population (2022 census) 3,682
India’s share of global wild tigers ~75%
Authority National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
Core-buffer zone model Each Tiger Reserve has inviolate core + buffer zone

UPSC Relevance

Paper Angle
GS3 — Environment Big cat conservation, IBCA, Project Tiger, Cheetah reintroduction, IUCN status
GS2 — International Relations India’s multilateral leadership; IBCA as soft power; Global South cooperation
GS3 — Environment Kunming-Montreal GBF, 30×30 target, biodiversity frameworks

Mains Keywords: International Big Cat Alliance, IBCA Summit 2026, Project Tiger, 7 big cats, cheetah reintroduction, Kuno National Park, NTCA, Kunming-Montreal GBF, India biodiversity leadership, Bhupender Yadav, big cat conservation

Prelims Facts Corner

Item Fact
IBCA founded 2023 (PM Modi, April 9, 2023 — 50th anniversary of Project Tiger)
IBCA HQ India (New Delhi)
First IBCA Summit June 1–2, 2026, New Delhi
Species covered 7 big cats: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, Puma
Range countries 95
Project Tiger year 1973
India’s tiger population (2022) 3,682 (most recent census)
India’s Tiger Reserves 58 (58th: Madhav NP, MP — March 2025)
India’s wild lion location Gir Forest, Gujarat (only population outside Africa)
Cheetah reintroduction Kuno NP, MP (2022); from Namibia + South Africa
GBF 30×30 target Protect 30% land + oceans by 2030

Source: IBCA Summit 2026 — India to Host First International Big Cat Alliance Summit in June — Ujiyari.com | Free UPSC & State PCS Current Affairs