Dharamshala: Secretary Dhondul Dorjee has formally assumed office as Secretary of the Department of Security under the Central Tibetan Administration, following his tenure as Secretary of the Department of Religion and Culture.

A charge handover ceremony was held at the Department of Security to mark the official transition. During the event, former Secretary Karma Rinchen transferred responsibilities to the incoming Secretary. Secretary Jigme Namgyal of the Department of Religion and Culture attended the ceremony on behalf of the Kashag as official witness.

In accordance with established procedures, all official files, records, documents, and departmental inventories were handed over to the new Secretary. The outgoing Secretary also conveyed his congratulations and extended his good wishes for the successful discharge of future responsibilities.

To conclude the occasion, departmental staff offered traditional khatags to the outgoing and incoming Secretaries as a token of appreciation, respect, and goodwill.

Brief Bio of Secretary Dhondul Dorjee

Secretary Dhondul Dorjee was born on 10 March 1980 in Jangthang Samed, Ladakh, to Ngawang Thokmey and Kunchok Dolma.

He began his service with the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in 2008 as Deputy Secretary in the Office of the Auditor General. Later, he was posted to the Audit Office in Nepal as Deputy Head and subsequently served as the Head of the Auditor’s Office there.

In December 2012, he was appointed Secretary of OOT Nepal. During this period, he also served as Settlement Officer and Local Election Commissioner for Kathmandu, Phagshing, and Lo-tserok.

He was later transferred to Gangtok as Settlement Officer before being assigned to the Department of Home as Chief Accountant in June 2016. In recognition of his dedicated service, he was awarded the CTA Distinguished Service Award in 2017.

He was promoted to additional secretary of the Department of Religion and Culture on 1 February 2020, and later transferred to the Department of Finance as an Additional Secretary on 26 June 2023.

On 4 September 2023, he was moved to the Department of Security as an Additional Secretary, and eventually promoted to Secretary of the same department.

On 24 July 2024, he took-over charge as the Secretary of the Department of Religion and Culture till his transfer to the Department of Security as its Secretary.

Dharamshala: As part of the 18th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile’s program to engage with the public following its formation, Parliamentarians Choedak Gyatso and Gonpo Dhundup will undertake an official visit to Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir and various regions of Ladakh, including Kargil, Leh, and 9 Jangthang regions from 22 June 2026 to 6 July 2026.

The parliamentarians will visit Srinagar from 22-23 June, followed by a visit to Kargil from 24-25 June and engagements in Leh from 26-28 June. From 29 June to 4 July, the MPs will visit nine Jangthang regions and meet with Ladakhi dignitaries in Leh from 5-6 July.

– Filed by Tibetan Parliamentary Secretariat 

Dharamshala: As part of the 18th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile’s program to engage with the public following its formation, Parliamentarians Karma Gelek and Dr. Rigzin Lhundup will undertake an official visit to Tibetan communities in Dharamshala, areas under the jurisdiction of the Tibetan Settlement Office (TSO) Dharamshala, and Phuntsokling Tibetan Settlement in Dalhousie from 22 to 28 June 2026.

The parliamentarians will visit Dharamshala and the areas under TSO Dharamshala from 22 to 25 June 2026. This will be followed by a visit to Phuntsokling Tibetan Settlement in Dalhousie from 26 to 28 June 2026.

– Filed by Tibetan Parliamentary Secretariat 

Leh, Ladakh: The one-day national conference on “Tibet–Himalaya Relations in Reference to Ladakhi Culture and History” was jointly organised by the Centre for Research on Ladakh, the Chief Representative Office of Ladakh, the Regional Tibetan Women’s Association, Leh, the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, Leh, and the Tibet Policy Institute of the Central Tibetan Administration.  It was held at the Tibetan Assembly Hall, Choglamsar, Leh, Ladakh on 17 June 2026.

The event brought together more than 45 Ladakhi and Tibetan scholars, artists, journalists and community leaders to explore the deep historical and cultural connections between Tibet and Ladakh, with reference to culture, language, and history. The participation of representatives from institutions such as the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics, University of Ladakh, and the Tibet Policy Institute underscored the commitment to building a shared intellectual and cultural foundation.

The inaugural presence of Khensur (former Abbot) Lobsang Tsetan, whose formal monastic education at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery predates 1959, lent the conference a profound sense of historical continuity and depth. The special address delivered by Tsering Dorjee Lakruk, president of the Ladakh Buddhist Association further highlighted the importance of local cultural perspectives within broader scholarly discussions. In their respective remarks, Nawang Tsering Shakspo, founder of the Centre for Research on Ladakh, offered a warm welcome to participants and briefed about the nature and scope of conference. Dr. Tsewang Dorji Jeshong, a research fellow of Tibet Policy Institute emphasised the intellectual significance of the gathering. Speakers underscored the vital role such conferences play in safeguarding local knowledge systems and ensuring that community narratives remain in the hands of local scholars rather than becoming diluted, marginalised, or forgotten.

Dr. Tsewang Dorji Jeshong chaired the technical panels which focused on the shared culture, language, migration patterns, and historical ties between Tibet and Ladakh, highlighting both of Tibetan and Ladakhi common heritage and the challenges they face.

In the concluding remarks, conference participants emphasised the importance of future collaboration between the Tibet Policy Institute and Ladakhi academic institutions, reflecting a long-term vision for joint research, knowledge exchange, and cultural preservation.

The proceedings of the conference were comprehensively covered and reported by DD News Ladakh and other local media outlets. The conference was attended by more than 60 people, including college students and local residents.

– Report filed by Tibet Policy Institute, CTA

Dharamshala: The Political Secretary of the Kashag, Tashi Gyatso Shadrong, has officially assumed charge as Cabinet Secretary (pro tem) of the Central Tibetan Administration.

To mark the transfer of responsibilities, a handover ceremony was held at the Cabinet Secretariat. The event signified the transition of duties from the former Cabinet Secretary, Tsegyal Chukya Dranyi, to the interim Cabinet Secretary, Tashi Gyatso Shadrong. Representing the Kashag, Secretary Jigme Tsering of the Kashag Secretariat’s Documents Classification and Interim Placement Section attended the ceremony as an official witness.

As part of the formal proceedings, the outgoing Secretary handed over all departmental files, records, documents, and inventories to his successor. He also conveyed his congratulations and extended his best wishes for a productive and successful tenure.

Following the completion of the handover, traditional ceremonial scarves were presented to both the former and incoming Secretaries as a gesture of goodwill and respect.

Brief Bio of Secretary Tashi Gyatso Shadrong

Secretary Tashi Gyatso Shadrong was born on 25 January 1967 in Domey Nangra, Tibet, to Jokyap and Phakmo Kyi. He completed his primary and senior secondary education in Tibet and earned a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree from Rebgong, Tibet, in 1990. Following his arrival in India, he attended a Special Management Course at Sarah College for Higher Tibetan Studies in 1997 and later participated in an NCGG workshop in Mussoorie in 2018.

He joined the Central Tibetan Administration in June 1993 as Deputy Secretary in the Research Wing of the Department of Security. On 10 February 1999, he was promoted to the position of Joint Secretary.

In 2001, he took an eight-month official academic leave and resumed his duties at the Department of Security in 2002. In December 2004, he was transferred to the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) to serve on a committee tasked with assessing and verifying the deaths of 1.2 million Tibetans under Chinese rule since 1959. He was promoted to Additional Secretary in 2007 and, in September 2008, was transferred to the History and Documentation Centre under the Kashag Secretariat.

In 2010, he was transferred to the Tibetan Parliamentary Secretariat. Two years later, in 2012, he was promoted to Secretary and reassigned to the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission. On 1 July 2021, he was appointed Political Secretary at the Kashag Secretariat. On 1 July 2021, he was appointed Political Secretary at the Kashag Secretariat. Subsequently, with the formation of the 17th Kashag, on 19 June 2026, he assumed the additional responsibility of temporary Cabinet Secretary while continuing to serve as Political Secretary.

Dharamshala, 18 June 2026: Speaker Dolma Tsering Teykhang of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile extended her deepest condolences on demise of Professor Robert A. F. Thurman.

In a letter to Nena Von Schlebrugge, the Speaker wrote, “We are deeply saddened by the demise of Professor Robert A. F. Thurman, a distinguished Buddhist scholar, co-founder of Tibet House, educator, and lifelong friend of Tibet.”

“Professor Thurman dedicated his life to advancing the understanding of Buddhism, Tibetan culture, and the universal values of compassion, wisdom, and nonviolence. Through his scholarship, teaching, and unwavering advocacy, he inspired generations worldwide and played a vital role in bringing the richness of Tibetan Buddhist thought to a global audience.”

“His steadfast support for the Tibetan people and his close association with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama made him a bridge between cultures and a powerful voice for peace, justice, and human dignity.”

“As we mourn his loss, we also celebrate a remarkable life devoted to learning, service, and the preservation of humanity’s spiritual heritage. His legacy will continue to inspire scholars, practitioners, and all those committed to a more compassionate world.”

“On behalf of the 18th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and Tibetans around the world, I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, students, and countless admirers. May you find strength and comfort in the legacy of love, kindness, and inspiration that he leaves behind,” concluded the Speaker.

– Filed by Tibetan Parliamentary Secretariat 

Manali: At the request of the Local Ghoton Organising Committee and Von Ngari Monastery, and as part of the Year of Compassion celebrations, the 13th Kyabje Kundeling Tatsak Jedrung Rinpoche bestowed religious teachings and empowerments upon local devotees and members of the Tibetan community in Manali on the full-moon day of the fourth Tibetan month, Saga Dawa, which fell on 15 June 2026.

Before a gathering of devotees in the courtyard of the Himalaya Nyingmapa Buddhist Temple, Kyabje Kundeling Rinpoche conferred the transmission of Avalokiteshvara Guru Yoga and the long-life empowerment of White Tara.

During the programme, the Chairman of the Local Ghoton Organising Committee presented a mandala and the three auspicious representations of the Buddha on behalf of the congregation as an expression of gratitude to Rinpoche.

In his teaching, Rinpoche explained that the text Avalokiteshvara Guru Yoga was composed by His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama. He noted that its central theme is the practice of guru yoga through the understanding of Avalokiteshvara and His Holiness as inseparable in essence. Rinpoche further explained that both the extended and condensed versions of the text were composed prior to 1959 in response to repeated requests from devoted disciples.

The purpose of the practice, Rinpoche said, is to cultivate extraordinary love and compassion, from which bodhichitta may arise and take firm root in our minds, enabling practitioners to work for the enlightenment of all sentient beings. It is for this reason that the practice presents Avalokiteshvara and the Dalai Lama as inseparable in essence.

Following the empowerment, Rinpoche addressed the gathering on the importance of preserving, sustaining, and promoting Tibet’s unique religion, language, and culture, particularly among Tibetans. He observed that the work long carried out by His Holiness the Dalai Lama has, in today’s troubled and conflict-ridden world, become akin to a universal remedy.

Rinpoche further remarked that while organising programmes throughout Tibetan settlements to commemorate the Year of Compassion in conjunction with His Holiness’s birthday is itself a cause for his long life, what is even more important is to put his teachings and guidance into sincere and genuine practice. Such practice, Rinpoche said, constitutes the true offering and serves as the real foundation for His Holiness’s long life.

Rinpoche then delivered extensive teachings on the principles to be adopted and the actions to be avoided in daily conduct and spiritual practice, leaving a deep and lasting impression on the monastic and lay audience alike.

Approximately one thousand devotees attended the event, including Tibetans, members of Himalayan communities, and visitors from various countries. During a special audience following the programme, the Local Ghoton Organising Committee presented a commemorative gift to Rinpoche as a token of gratitude.

Dharamshala: Secretary Jigme Namgyal Namgyalkhang, who previously served as Secretary of the Department of Education, has officially taken charge as the Secretary of the Department of Religion and Culture of the Central Tibetan Administration.

To commemorate the transfer of responsibilities, a handover ceremony was convened at the Department of Religion and Culture. The event marked the transition from the outgoing Secretary, Dhondul Dorjee, to the newly appointed Secretary, Jigme Namgyal. Representing the Kashag, Secretary Karma Choeying of the Department of Education attended the ceremony as an official witness.

As part of the formal proceedings, the outgoing Secretary handed over all departmental files, records, documents, and inventories to his successor. He also extended his congratulations and expressed his best wishes for a productive and successful tenure.

Upon the completion of the handover, the incoming and outgoing Secretaries as well as the official witness met with the Department’s Kalon, Tsegyal Chukya Dranyi, and held a brief meeting.

Thereafter, the department staff presented traditional ceremonial scarves to both the outgoing and incoming Secretaries in recognition of their service and as a gesture of goodwill.

Brief Bio of Secretary Jigme Namgyal 

Secretary Jigme Namgyal was born on 7 May 1978 to Yudrung Tsering and Tsering Dolma. After completing his early education at CST Bir and his senior secondary education at CST Dalhousie, he joined the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS), Sarnath, Varanasi. In 2000, he was awarded a Gold Medal for securing first position in the Shastri degree examination, and in 2003, he graduated with an Acharya degree in First Division.

During his student years at CIHTS, Jigme Namgyal actively participated in numerous training programmes, workshops, and seminars. He also served on various student committees of the Institute.

In 2001, he was recruited into the Tibetan civil service of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and was appointed as Under Secretary in the Department of Education. Following the change in the Kashag in mid-2001, he was transferred to the Kashag Secretariat and appointed Private Secretary to the Kalon Tripa, a position now equivalent to that of the Sikyong following His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s complete devolution of political authority.

During his long tenure at the Kashag Secretariat, he had the privilege of serving Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, then Kalon Tripa, from 2001 to 2011, and Dr. Lobsang Sangay from 2011 to 2016. Over this period, he held the positions of Under Secretary, Deputy Secretary, and, from 2010, Joint Secretary.

In August 2016, he was transferred to the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR), where he was subsequently promoted to the post of Additional Secretary in 2017.

He later served as Head of the Administration Section in the Department of Education following his transfer and was appointed Secretary of the Department of Education on 3 September 2020.

With the formation of the 17th Kashag, he was transferred to the Department of Religion and Culture and appointed its Secretary.

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Contact address & email :  

Secretary 

Public Service Commission 

Central Tibetan Administration 

Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamshala-176215 

Dist. Kangra (H.P) 

E-mail: psc@tibet.net 

Contact phone number : 01892- 310846