INTRODUCTION
The Department of Religion and Culture is a ministry office established under the executive organ of Central Tibetan Administration whose function is to overlook religious and cultural affairs in Tibetan exile community. It has the responsibility of supervising works aimed at reviving, preserving, and promotion of Tibetan religious and cultural heritage that is being led to the verge of extinction in Tibet.
It began its operation in exile community as Council for Religious Affairs office on April 27, 1959, headed by a Director and constituted by the representative of the four Buddhist schools as its principal members in Mussorrie. On 30th May 1960, the Council for Religious Affairs shifted its office to Dharamsala and on September 12, 1960, it became one of the seven main departments when His Holiness the Dalai Lama formally established the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA).
Under the affiliation of this department, there are 255 monasteries and 37 nunneries in India, Nepal and Bhutan and also five cultural institutions across India.
The primary aim is to preserve and promote Tibetan religion and culture which has suffered and continue to suffer at the hands of Chinese regime in Tibet.
Other objectives are:
  1. To plan and implement religious and cultural policies according to advice of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and Central Tibetan Administration.
  2. To promote unity and harmony amongst Tibetan religious schools.
  3. To give help to the Tibetan monasteries, nunneries, temples, and cultural institutions for preserving and promoting cultural heritage of Tibet.
  4. To organize and participate in conferences and seminars on religion, culture, and Tibetan studies.
  5. To liaise with important religious associations of other faiths and with Tibetan and non-Tibetan Buddha Dharma Centers.
  6. To conduct and sponsor research in the areas of Tibetan and Buddhist studies.
  7. To oversee and assist to support the traditional monastic curricula in the reestablished Tibetan monasteries, nunneries, and cultural institutions.
  8. To hold public discourses and teachings for promotion and preservation of unique and rare oral religious transmissions.
  9. To look after the old, sick, and destitute monks and nuns and those who are in retreat.
  10. To organize and perform regular and special religious events and activities.
ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
The Department of Religion and Culture has three main sections:
Administrative Section: This section is the main body of the department whose function is to manage and maintain the overall function of the department. The account, scholarship, and sponsorship come under the supervision of the Administrative division. Each sub-section has its own special functions and the concerned persons need to report to an Additional Secretary and the Secretary.
Religious Section: This section has a responsibility to organize and implement various religious activities with the aim of preserving and promoting Tibetan Buddhism and strengthening better relations among four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism and Bon, Jonang Tradition. The prayer section, Book publication section, and Research section come under the Religious section.

Culture Section: This section was established in July 2021 with the approval of Kashag. The main aim of establishing the culture section is to strengthen its activities and programs for the preservation of Tibetan culture and language.

Brief Biography of Kalon Tsegyal Chukya Dranyi

Tsegyal Chukya Dranyi was born on 2 February 1966 in Phari Chukya to Dranyi Pegyal and Yangkyi.

He completed Class 12 at CST Darjeeling in 1989 and subsequently pursued higher education at Darjeeling Government College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree. During his college years, he also completed a ten-month English typewriting course.

While studying in Class 11 at CST Darjeeling, he received a Certificate of Merit from the Department of Education in recognition of his academic achievements. He also served as Boys’ Captain and represented the school’s local youth group.

He began his public service career in the Department of Education, where he served from 10 October 1991 to 30 September 1993. In 1993, he passed the competitive recruitment examination and was appointed to the Civil Service as an Under Secretary, subsequently being assigned to the Department of Health.

In 1997, he was promoted to the position of Deputy Secretary and continued his service in the same department. In 2000, he was transferred and appointed as Head of the Dalhousie Factory-cum-Settlement Officer. Subsequently, he was promoted to Joint Secretary in 2002 and transferred to the Department of Home. In 2004, he was transferred to the Department of Health and was appointed Director of the Ngoenga School for Tibetan Children with Special Needs in Dehradun.

In recognition of his exemplary service, he received the CTA’s Staff Excellence Awards in the Administration Category for the 2009–2010 fiscal year on 6 July 2009.

In 2010, he was promoted to the Additional Secretary and transferred to the Department of Health, where he was promoted to Secretary on 13 October 2014.

In 2016, he was transferred as Secretary of the Department of Religion and Culture. He returned to the Department of Health as Secretary later that year.

On 8 April 2019, he was transferred to the Kashag Secretariat as its Secretary and from 3 February 2020, he simultaneously served as Secretary of both Kashag and Department of Religion and Culture.

On 3 August 2021, he relinquished his responsibilities as Secretary of the Department of Religion and Culture and continued serving as Secretary of the Kashag. In addition, he has chaired eleven committees, including the Central Ghoton Organising Committee and Staff Transfer and Placement Committee.

He has completed a total of 35 years of public service at the Central Tibetan Administration until his appointment as the Kalon of the Department of Religion and Culture of the 17th Kashag. 

KALONS
  1. Sonam Topgyal Shenkha Gyurmey (1959 – 1961)
  2. Ta Lama Thupten Norsang (1961 – 1964)
  3. Woesar Gyaltsen Kundeling (1964 – 1975)
  4. Thupten Nyinchen Phechoe (1976 – 1979)
  5. Thupten Namgyal Juchen (1979 – 1987)
  6. Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari (1987 – 1987)
  7. Lobsang Dhargyal Shewo (1987 – 1989)
  8. Kelsang Yeshi (1989 – May 1996)
  9. Tenzin Pelbar Alak (June 1996 – March 1997)
  10. Kirti Rinpoche Lobsang Tenzin (April 1997 – March 1999)
  11. Kalon Tripa Sonam Topgyal (April 1999 – September 1999)
  12. Tashi Wangdi September (1999 – September 2001)
  13. Thupten Lungrig (September 20, 2001 – March 04, 2005)
  14. Lobsang Nyima (March 5, 2005 – August 14, 2006)
  15. Ven Tsering Phuntsok (October 07, 2006 – August 07, 2011)
  16. Pema Chhinjor (September 17, 2011 – May 26, 2016)
  17. Ven Karma Gelek Yuthok (June 1, 2016 – May 25, 2021)
  18. Penpa Tsering (May 27, 2021 – May 26, 2026)
  19. Tsegyal Chukya Dranyi (June 3, 2026 – Present)
SECRETARIES
  1. Ngawang Dhundup Khendrung (1960 – 1963)
  2. Chogye Trichen Rinpoche (1963 – 1965)
  3. Ngawang Choesang (1975 – 1979)
  4. Khamtrul Rinpoche Jamyang Dhundup (1980 – 1985)
  5. Mr. Kelsang Yeshi (1985 – 1989)
  6. Ven. Karma Gelek Yuthok (December 5, 1989 – December 13, 1993)
  7. Mr. Lobsang Khedup (January 3, 1994 – July 1, 2000)
  8. Ven. Karma Gelek Yuthok (October 3, 2000 – April 8, 2002)
  9. Mr. Thupten Tashi Anyetsang (April 9, 2002 – October 13, 2004)
  10. Tashi Norbu (November 22, 2004 – February 15, 2006)
  11. Tsering Dhundup Namey Lakhang (February 16, 2006 – August 26, 2008)
  12. Mr. Lobsang Tsultrim Jeshong (August 28, 2008 – March 31, 2009)
  13. Mr. Gonpo Phuntsok [On deputation] (April 10, 2009 – September 07, 2009)
  14. Mr. Gonpo Phuntsok (September 08, 2009 – December 15, 2010)
  15. Mr. Ngawang Choedak Choetri Tengpa (December 13, 2011 – October 02, 2013)
  16. Ven. Norbu Dhonden (October 03, 2013 – June 30, 2014)
  17. Mr. Dhondup Dorjee Gyalling (July 1, 2014 – March 14, 2016)
  18. Mr. Tsegyal Chukya Dranyi  (March 15, 2016 – August 07, 2016)
  19. Mr. Tenzin Lungtok, Acting Secretary ( August 08, 2016- May 21, 2017)
  20. Mr. Tenzin Lungtok (May 22, 2017 – January 09, 2020)
  21. Mr. Tsegyal Chukya Dranyi (February 19, 2020 – August 30, 2021)
  22. Mrs. Chime Tseyang Lhutritsang (September 01, 2021 – April 09, 2024)
  23. Mr. Dhondul Dorjee (July 25, 2024 – June 16, 2026)
  24. Mr. Jigme Namgyal (June 17, 2026 – Present)
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