One of the quieter but more meaningful announcements in the Union Budget 2026 was India’s decision to host the world’s first Global Big Cat Summit.
It may not have grabbed the loudest headlines, but for wildlife conservation, it’s an important moment.
The summit is expected to bring together representatives from close to 95 countries—governments, conservation experts, and organisations working to protect big cats and the forests they live in. The idea is to share knowledge, learn from each other, and find better ways to protect species that are under growing pressure from habitat loss and climate change.
India’s role here feels natural. The country is home to tigers, lions, leopards, snow leopards, and cheetahs. Over the years, India’s work in tiger conservation, in particular, has been recognised around the world. Hosting the summit is a way of taking that experience beyond borders and opening it up for global collaboration.
The Budget’s mention of the summit also reflects a broader shift in thinking. Conservation is no longer seen as something separate from development. Wildlife protection supports tourism, creates jobs, and helps sustain communities living near forests. When ecosystems are healthy, local economies tend to be healthier too.
The Global Big Cat Summit is linked to the International Big Cat Alliance, which aims to bring countries together to protect these species collectively. By backing the summit through the Union Budget, the government has given the effort both visibility and seriousness.
There are still challenges, of course. Conservation needs long-term funding, strong implementation, and continued local support. But many see this announcement as a step in the right direction—an acknowledgment that wildlife protection deserves a place in national planning.
As India prepares to host the summit, the message from the Budget is clear and simple: protecting nature is not a side issue anymore. It’s part of how the country sees its responsibility—to its land, its people, and the world.
