The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) with headquarters in India. The government will provide a one-time budgetary support of ₹150 crore for a five-year period from 2023-24 to 2027-28.
Background:
Acknowledging India's leading role in conserving tigers, other big cats and many of its endangered species, the Prime Minister of India during his speech on the occasion of Global Tiger Day, 2019 called for an Alliance of Global Leaders to curb poaching in Asia.
He reiterated this on the occasion of Commemorating 50 years of India's Project Tiger on April 9, 2023, and formally announced the launch of an International Big Cat Alliance aiming at securing the future of big cats and the landscapes they thrive.
Seven big cats include Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Puma, Jaguar and the Cheetah out of these five big cats viz. Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard and Cheetah are found in India.
About the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)
IBCA governance consists of an Assembly of Members, a Standing Committee and a Secretariat with its Head Quarter in India.
Framework of Agreement (statute) has been drafted largely on the pattern of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and is to be finalised by the International Steering Committee (ISC).
Host Country Agreement prepared on the lines of ISA and the Government of India.
A Steering Committee will be constituted with nominated national focal points of founding member countries.
Appointment of DG by MoEFCC as Interim Head of IBCA Secretariat till IBCA appoints its own DG during the Assembly meeting.
IBCA Assembly at Ministerial level to be chaired by President, HMEFCC, Gol.
IBCA aims for mutual cooperation among countries for mutual benefit in furthering the conservation agenda.
IBCA would have a multipronged approach in broad basing and establishing linkages manifold in several areas and help in knowledge sharing, capacity building, networking, advocacy, finance and resources support, research and technical support, education and awareness.
With big cats as mascots for sustainable development and livelihood security, India and the big cat range countries can usher in major efforts on environmental resilience and climate change mitigation, while paving a future where natural ecosystems continue to thrive, and gain centrality in economic and development policies.
The International Big Cat Alliance has been conceived as a multi-country, multi-agency coalition of 96 big cat range countries, non-range countries interested in big cat conservation, conservation partners and scientific organizations working in the field of big cat conservation besides business groups and corporates willing to contribute to the cause of big cats, to establish networks and develop synergies in a focused manner so as to bring to a common platform a centralized repository of successful practices and personnel, backed by financial support which can be leveraged to strengthen the conservation agenda in the field to arrest decline in big cat population and reverse the trend.
IBCA envisages synergy through a collaborative platform for increased dissemination of gold standard big cat conservation practices, provides access to a central common repository of technical know-how and corpus of funds, strengthens the existing species-specific intergovernmental platforms, networks and transnational initiatives on conservation and protection and assists securing our ecological future and mitigate adverse effects of climate change.
The framework of IBCA would have a multipronged approach in broad basing and establishing linkages manifold in several areas and help in knowledge sharing, capacity building, networking, advocacy, finance and resources support, research and technical support, insurance against failures, education and awareness.
Brand ambassadors across a range of countries would play a greater role in carrying forward the concept. They will boost the impetus to ensure the Big Cat Conservation campaign amongst the masses including the youth and local communities who are important stakeholders in the whole process.
The country's climate leadership role through a collaborative action-oriented approach and initiatives, leading to enhanced green economy projects is possible through the IBCA platform.
Thus, the impetus across Big Cat alliance members could change the face of conservation and prosperity of enabling partners.
The International Big Cat Alliance recognizes the importance of integrating biodiversity policies with sustainable development goals (SDGs) to achieve holistic and inclusive conservation outcomes.
The advocates above for policy initiatives that align biodiversity conservation efforts with local needs and contribute towards the attainment of UN SDGs within IBCA member countries.
Mainstreaming Biodiversity across Sectors to embrace integrating biodiversity considerations into sectoral policies and development planning processes; including agriculture, forestry, tourism, and infrastructure development; promoting sustainable land-use practices, habitat restoration initiatives, and ecosystem-based approaches that support biodiversity conservation and contribute to SDGs related to climate change, food security, clean water, and poverty reduction.
The Alliance ensures sustainable use of natural resources and mitigates challenges emanating from climate change.
By safeguarding big cats and their habitats, the IBCA contributes to natural climate adaptation, water and food security and the well-being of thousands of communities reliant on these ecosystems.
IBCA would instil cooperation among countries for mutual benefit and immensely contribute to furthering the long-term conservation agenda.
Unrestrained poaching plays a role in disappearance of Odisha’s leopards
Time to Read :🕑 7 Mins
Why in news?
The recently released report, "Status of Leopards in India," presented a dismal picture of the big cat population in the State.
Key finding
The leopard population in Odisha is estimated at 568, the population has significantly declined since the last countrywide estimate of 760.
However, the leopard densities from both the tiger Reserves have increased significantly. This indicates the major efforts of recovery is restricted to tiger reserves,” says the leopard census.
The drop of 192 leopards is estimated to be 25.26%.
The report says leopard occupancy has been reported exclusively within Protected Areas (PAs) such as Similipal and Satkosia tiger reserves, Hirakud and Kotagarh wildlife sanctuaries and their adjoining forest divisions.
The leopard occupancy has declined from the previous occupied regions.
Leopard presence was not recorded from Nayagarh and Ghumsur forest divisions in this cycle of countrywide monitoring.
According to the report, common threats are
Poaching of prey for bush meat.
Targeted poaching for tiger and leopard skins.
Body parts and habitat loss due to mining and other human activities.
Additionally, road accidents are a significant cause of leopard fatalities.
The high number of leopard skins seized by both Odisha police and the State Forest and Environment department indicates how poaching remained the prime cause behind disappearance of leopards in the State.
As per the information furnished by the Forest Department in the State Assembly, as many as 59 leopard skins were seized from wildlife smugglers between 2018 and 2023.
Similarly, the Special Task Force (STF) of the State Police recovered 57 leopard skins from poachers and wildlife article dealers between 2019 and 2024.
Put together, 116 leopards were killed and skins were peeled off.
Recommendation
According to the census report, the State should put efforts into effective patrolling, prey recovery and habitat management outside the tiger reserve since the major population of leopards (55%) are outside the protected area network.
Odisha has a forest cover of 52,156 sq. km constituting 33.50% of the State’s total area. Effective patrolling and law enforcement are particularly critical.
Defence Ministry inks Rs 39,000 crore deals
Time to Read :🕑 7 Mins
Why in news?
The defence ministry signed acquisition contracts worth Rs 39,125 crore, including the largest military deal ever awarded to an Indian private sector company, Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
About News
The Defence Ministry signed five key contracts worth Rs 39K crore including the purchase of extended range Brahmos for the navy along with engines for MiG-29, and close in weapon systems and radar for air defence.
The biggest chunk of the order worth over 20,000 crore went to BrahMos Aerospace Private Ltd in two separate contracts for procuring extended-range BrahMos missiles at a cost of Rs 19,518.65 crore and buying the ship-born BrahMos system for Rs 988 crore.
These missiles would be utilized to meet combat outfit and training requirements of the Indian Navy.
The largest ever indigenous missiles contract for the Indian Navy concluded with Brahmos Aerospace for the supply of enhanced-range BrahMos missiles. This will significantly boost the maritime strength and indigenous combat capability of the navy.
The deal to purchase 200 BrahMos cruise missiles with a range of 450 km was signed a week after the Cabinet Committee of Security gave its nod.
BrahMos missiles are the Indian Navy's primary weapon for maritime strike operations and the weapons will be fitted onboard various frontline warships.
The missile system is capable of hitting land or sea targets from extended ranges with pinpoint accuracy at supersonic speed.
Two contracts worth more than Rs 13,300 crore were signed with L&T for buying a weapon system for air defence and high-power radar for improved surveillance.
The L&T contracts include a Rs 7,669 crore deal to buy Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS) for the IAF for deployment across India to protect vital assets from all types of low-flying, low-signature aerial threats including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.
The CIWS comprises Air Defence Guns, Tracking Radars and a Search Radar linked to a Command and Control Shelter along with associated simulators and communication equipment.
The ministry also signed a Rs 5,700 crore contract with L&T to buy high-power radar, which is a static sensor for long-range aerial surveillance with higher uptime.
Equipped with multiple next-gen features and capable of remote operations, they will augment the IAF's capabilities for monitoring special zones of interest, designating and tracking adversaries with optimal accuracy.
The final contract was with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for buying RD-33 aero-engines for MiG-29 fighter jets of the IAF for Rs 5,249.72 crore.
To be produced by the Koraput Division of HAL, these aero engines are expected to fulfil the IAF's need to sustain the operational capability of the MiG-29 fleet for the residual service life.
The aero-engines will be manufactured under a Transfer of Technology license from the Russian original equipment manufacturer.
The programme will focus on the indigenisation of several high-value critical components, which would help increase the indigenous content of future Repair and Overhaul tasks of RD-33 aero-engines.
The Civil Services Exam is conducted every year by the UPSC to select suitable candidates for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), IFS (Indian Foreign Service), IPS (Indian Police Service), IRS (Indian Revenue Service) and other Central Services like the Audits and Accounts, Railway Technical Services etc.
These services are vital for the administration of the Nation as they form the underlying basis of the policy formulation, implementation and execution in almost all the domains of the Governance. Sardar Patel had called the Civil Service the “Steel Frame of India“, the backbone of India’s Administration.
Being part of the Services is associated with prestige, power and a sense of responsibility toward the Society and the Nation. No doubt, the Services attract the best among the vast talent pool of the country.
And it is no surprise that the competition for the CSE is becoming fiercer every year. Over the last 3-4 years the number of applicants has hovered around 1,000,000 out of which approximately 500,000 appear for the Preliminary Exam. On an average 10,000 candidates qualify for the Mains Examination and less than 2,500 are called for the interview. Finally, only about 1,000 or fewer candidates qualify to be part of the Services. Thus the conversion ratio from appearing in the Preliminary Examination to the final selection in the Services is less than 0.2% (considering only the
Thus only sincere hard work may not be enough to be part of the Services. The aspirants need suitable guidance and study material to get selected and fulfil their dream of serving the Nation. Unacademy strives to provide quality content to the learners in order to supplement the guidance they receive from top Educators on the Unacademy Platform and aid their preparation.
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