*5th Feb, 2025* *News of the Day* *International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) officially comes into force* *Introduction* In a major development, the Framework Agreement on establishment of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) has officially come into force. From 23rd January, 2025, the IBCA and its Secretariat have become a full-fledged treaty based inter-governmental international organization and international legal entity. *Member Countries* As of now, 27 countries including India have consented to join IBCA. The five countries namely Nicaragua, Eswatini, India, Somalia and Liberia have signed the Framework Agreement to formally become members of the IBCA. *About the IBCA* The IBCA was launched in 2023, during the event ‘Commemorating 50 years of Project Tiger’. The headquarters of IBCA are in India. It was launched with the aim of conservation of seven big cats - Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar and Puma – with membership of all UN countries/the range countries harbouring the said species and non-range countries where historically these species are not found but interested to support big cat conservation. The IBCA was established by Government of India, through the nodal organisation viz., National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC). Relevance: GS Prelims Source: PIB *Download the Complete Daily Current Affairs Pdf* https://www.prepmate.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/News-Juice-5th-February-2025.pdf