Why in News India announced it will host the first International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit on June 1-2, 2026, in New Delhi. The summit will bring together Heads of State/Government and senior officials from 97 big cat range countries, with the goal of coordinating global conservation and funding.
What is the International Big Cat Alliance?
The IBCA is an inter-governmental international organisation headquartered in India, established in 2023 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger. It was formally launched at the CITES CoP19 in November 2022 and constituted as a treaty-based body in 2023.
Seven Species Covered
| Big Cat | IUCN Status | Key Range Countries |
|---|---|---|
| Tiger | Endangered | India, Russia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan |
| Lion | Vulnerable | India (Gir), Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Leopard | Vulnerable | Africa, South Asia, SE Asia |
| Snow Leopard | Vulnerable | Central Asia, Himalayas |
| Cheetah | Vulnerable | Africa, Iran |
| Jaguar | Near Threatened | South/Central America |
| Puma | Least Concern | Americas |
IBCA Structure and India’s Role
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2023 |
| Launched | During Project Tiger 50th anniversary |
| Headquarters | India |
| Member countries | 25 members + 5 observers |
| Range countries | 97 |
| India’s funding | Rs 150 crore (2023-2028) |
| Secretariat | Under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) |
Summit Details
- Date: June 1-2, 2026
- Location: New Delhi
- Theme: “Save Big Cats, Save Humanity, Save Ecosystem”
- Participation: Heads of State/Government (Day 1) + Technical sessions (Days 1-2)
Project Tiger – India’s Conservation Bedrock
Background
Project Tiger was launched in 1973 under PM Indira Gandhi with 9 tiger reserves and fewer than 1,900 tigers. Today:
- 58 tiger reserves across India (as of 2025)
- 3,682 tigers (2022 census average estimate; 3,167 is the minimum estimate)
- India holds approximately 75% of the world’s wild tiger population
- Conservation managed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under MoEFCC
Tiger Reserve Governance
Tiger reserves are notified under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (WPA), specifically under Section 38V which mandates:
- Core area: No human activity; inviolate zone
- Buffer zone: Limited human activity; eco-tourism permitted
Ramsar Connection
Several tiger reserve wetland zones have also been designated Ramsar sites (wetlands of international importance), reflecting India’s integrated biodiversity approach.
Cheetah Reintroduction – A Special Context
India’s Project Cheetah, launched in September 2022, brought 8 Namibian cheetahs and subsequently 12 South African cheetahs to Kuno National Park (Madhya Pradesh) – the first transcontinental wildlife translocation. The IBCA framework provides international diplomatic support for such translocation cooperation.
Global Big Cat Conservation Challenges
- Habitat loss: Deforestation, agricultural expansion, linear infrastructure fragmentation
- Human-wildlife conflict: Livestock depredation leads to retaliatory killings
- Poaching: Illegal wildlife trade in bones, skin, claws (driven by demand in East Asia)
- Climate change: Altering prey distribution, increasing habitat stress for snow leopard and tiger
- Transboundary management: Big cats do not respect national borders – necessitates multilateral coordination
UPSC Relevance
GS Paper 3 – Environment and Ecology
- Big cat conservation frameworks
- Project Tiger: structure, NTCA, Tiger Reserve governance (WPA Section 38V)
- IUCN Red List categories (Endangered, Vulnerable, Near Threatened)
- Cheetah reintroduction (Project Cheetah)
GS Paper 2 – International Relations
- International conservation diplomacy
- India’s role in multilateral environmental organisations
Mains Angles
- Assess India’s conservation model for big cats and its potential for replication globally through IBCA.
- How does Project Cheetah exemplify the challenges and opportunities of wildlife reintroduction in India?
- Examine the role of the National Tiger Conservation Authority in balancing tiger conservation with the rights of forest-dependent communities.
Facts Corner – Knowledgepedia
IBCA:
- Launched: 2023 (Project Tiger 50th anniversary + CITES CoP19)
- 7 big cats: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, Puma
- 25 members + 5 observers; 97 range countries
- HQ: India; under MoEFCC
- India’s commitment: Rs 150 crore (2023-2028)
- 1st Summit: June 1-2, 2026, New Delhi
Project Tiger:
- Launched: 1973 (9 reserves, <1,900 tigers)
- Current: 58 reserves; 3,682 tigers (2022 census average; 3,167 minimum); India = ~75% world population
- Governed by NTCA under WPA 1972 (Section 38V)
- Core zone: inviolate; Buffer zone: eco-tourism allowed
Project Cheetah:
- Sept 2022: 8 Namibian cheetahs to Kuno NP (MP)
- 2023: 12 South African cheetahs added
- First transcontinental wildlife translocation globally
IUCN Status (Big Cats):
- Endangered: Tiger
- Vulnerable: Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah
- Near Threatened: Jaguar
- Least Concern: Puma
