The Democratic Institutions of the Central Tibetan Administration

The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) represents one of the world’s most distinctive democratic institutions. Established in 1959 following the Dalai Lama’s arrival in India, it serves as the representative institution of Tibetans both inside Tibet and across the global Tibetan diaspora. Guided by the Charter of the Tibetans in Exile, the CTA comprises independent executive, legislative and judicial institutions, reflecting the democratic reforms initiated by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. The following diagrams provide an overview of its constitutional structure, principal institutions, and the responsibilities of its key organs, offering readers a visual guide to the functioning of Tibetan democratic governance in exile.