India to Host First Global Big Cats Summit

India will organise the world’s first international summit dedicated to the conservation of big cats in 2026, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced while presenting the Union Budget 2026 in Parliament. The announcement underlines India’s growing leadership in global wildlife conservation and environmental diplomacy.

Global Big Cats Summit Announcement

During her Budget speech, Sitharaman said the International Big Cat Alliance will organise the inaugural Big Cats Summit this year. The summit is expected to bring together Heads of State, ministers, and senior officials from 95 big cat range countries. The focus will be on collective conservation strategies, habitat protection, and coordinated action to address threats such as habitat loss, poaching, and climate change.

Role of the International Big Cat Alliance

The International Big Cat Alliance was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 9, 2023. It formally came into force on January 23, 2025, and has since become a treaty-based intergovernmental organisation with international legal status. The Alliance aims to promote cooperation among countries that host big cat species, facilitate knowledge sharing, and mobilise resources for conservation.

What Are Big Cats?

The term ‘big cat’ commonly refers to large members of the family Felidae, particularly those belonging to the genus Panthera. These include the tiger, lion, leopard, jaguar, and snow leopard, all of which are capable of roaring. While puma and cheetah do not belong to Panthera, they are often included in broader classifications of big cats due to their size and ecological role. Big cats are considered flagship and umbrella species, meaning their conservation also protects entire ecosystems and numerous other species.

Important Facts for Exams

• The International Big Cat Alliance became operational in January 2025.
• India will host the first-ever global summit on big cats in 2026.
• Big cats are classified as flagship and keystone species.
• Members of genus Panthera are capable of roaring.

India’s Conservation Legacy and Global Significance

The Indian subcontinent has historically been home to species such as the Bengal tiger, Asiatic lion, Indian leopard, snow leopard, and the Asiatic cheetah, which was declared extinct in 1952. In recent years, India has also undertaken cheetah reintroduction efforts. By hosting the Big Cats Summit, India seeks to strengthen transboundary cooperation for species such as the snow leopard in Inner Asia and tigers across South and Southeast Asia, positioning conservation as a shared global responsibility rather than a national concern.