India, Feb. 6 -- The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 9, 2023, has officially come into force from January 23, 2025, according to an official statement.

The IBCA is now a full-fledged treaty-based inter-governmental international organisation and international legal entity, the statement added.

The development comes even as five countries - Republic of Nicaragua, Kingdom of Eswatini, Republic of India, Federal Republic of Somalia, and Republic of Liberia - have ratified the Framework Agreement under Article VIII (1), formalising their membership in IBCA.

Twenty-seven countries, including India, have consented to join the IBCA.

The IBCA serves as a collaborative platform, fosterin...